After my recent foray into Paula Deen's restaurant and the discussions
here since.
I loved B.B.King's in Memphis (enjoyed the food, loved the music and
atmosphere) although wasn't terribly impressed with Issac Hayes
restaurant there. It was okay, but not anything to write home about.
I know there are many other establishments owned by celebrities, but
unsure how much of themselves are "in" the place?
Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
business for that passion?
What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY? Does the Pop-Tart
even EAT good food? All I see of her are photos of her going through
fast food drives or carrying drinks. Jennifer Lopez opened up Madre's in
years ago and the food was said to be Puerto Rican influenced which
could be of interest to me, but I've not heard any news of it since.
Anyone here eat at a "celebrity" place lately? How was it?

Goomba38 wrote:
> After my recent foray into Paula Deen's restaurant and the discussions
> here since.
> I loved B.B.King's in Memphis (enjoyed the food, loved the music and
> atmosphere) although wasn't terribly impressed with Issac Hayes
> restaurant there. It was okay, but not anything to write home about.
> I know there are many other establishments owned by celebrities, but
> unsure how much of themselves are "in" the place?
> Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
> food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
> business for that passion?
> What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY? Does the Pop-Tart
> even EAT good food? All I see of her are photos of her going through
> fast food drives or carrying drinks. Jennifer Lopez opened up Madre's in
> years ago and the food was said to be Puerto Rican influenced which
> could be of interest to me, but I've not heard any news of it since.
> Anyone here eat at a "celebrity" place lately? How was it?

What do you consider a celebrity restaurant? One that is owned or
part owned by someone well known, perhaps a sports star, as Michael
Jordan's Steak Restaurants or a well known chef like Batali, who has
several restaurants in New York City?

Mario Batali's restaurants are all supposed to be very good, but I
have never been to one. Curly Sue has been to several and has posted
about them with positive descriptions.

I have not been to Jordan's place, either, as I am not a steak eater.
I just wanted to know what kind of place you meant.

Margaret Suran wrote:

> What do you consider a celebrity restaurant? One that is owned or part
> owned by someone well known, perhaps a sports star, as Michael Jordan's
> Steak Restaurants or a well known chef like Batali, who has several
> restaurants in New York City?

I was thinking of famous people who didn't become famous for their food
originally. That leaves out Mario Batali and the Paula Deen types. I
didn't even know Michael Jordon had a steak restaurant. I am curious to
hear about what influences a celebrity has on the running of a
restaurant other than giving it their name?

Goomba38 wrote:
> After my recent foray into Paula Deen's restaurant and the discussions
> here since.
> I loved B.B.King's in Memphis (enjoyed the food, loved the music and
> atmosphere) although wasn't terribly impressed with Issac Hayes
> restaurant there. It was okay, but not anything to write home about.
> I know there are many other establishments owned by celebrities, but
> unsure how much of themselves are "in" the place?
> Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
> food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
> business for that passion?
> What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY? Does the Pop-Tart
> even EAT good food? All I see of her are photos of her going through
> fast food drives or carrying drinks. Jennifer Lopez opened up Madre's in
> years ago and the food was said to be Puerto Rican influenced which
> could be of interest to me, but I've not heard any news of it since.
> Anyone here eat at a "celebrity" place lately? How was it?

I loves Isaac Hayes' place in memphis simply for the red glitter circle
booths. As for the food, I don't remember, i was traveling with a (very self
righteous) vegan and a vegetarian and most meals made me want to punch people,
especially if sharing was involved.

--
..:Heather:.
www.velvet-c.com
I thought I was driving by Gettysburg once but it ends up I was just driving
by your mom's house.

The Bubbo wrote:

> I loves Isaac Hayes' place in memphis simply for the red glitter circle
> booths. As for the food, I don't remember, i was traveling with a (very self
> righteous) vegan and a vegetarian and most meals made me want to punch people,
> especially if sharing was involved.
>

LOL.. too funny. How'd they fare there at a BBQ restaurant?
I'd forgotten the decor and layout of Isaac Hayes' place, but recall now
it was set up not unlike what I imagine an old NY supper club was? No
music the night I was there, sadly. I'm just not nuts about the Memphis
style of "dry" ribs over "wet" ones.

Goomba38 wrote:
> The Bubbo wrote:
>
>> I loves Isaac Hayes' place in memphis simply for the red glitter circle
>> booths. As for the food, I don't remember, i was traveling with a (very
self
>> righteous) vegan and a vegetarian and most meals made me want to punch
people,
>> especially if sharing was involved.
>>
>
> LOL.. too funny. How'd they fare there at a BBQ restaurant?
> I'd forgotten the decor and layout of Isaac Hayes' place, but recall now
> it was set up not unlike what I imagine an old NY supper club was? No
> music the night I was there, sadly. I'm just not nuts about the Memphis
> style of "dry" ribs over "wet" ones.

We went all over the south and I wanted to weep at the restaurants we couldn't
go to for the lack of food for them. It was my first trip down to New Orleans
and there was so much I never got to eat. I made up for it later but I learned
to never trust travel plans to them again!

We spent a good 90 minutes driving around Vicksburg MS trying to find a place
to eat. I was practically screaming, "I do not CARE where we eat, I don't have
food issues so stop asking me!!!"

--
..:Heather:.
www.velvet-c.com
I thought I was driving by Gettysburg once but it ends up I was just driving
by your mom's house.

"Goomba38" > wrote

> What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY? Does the Pop-Tart even
> EAT good food? All I see of her are photos of her going through fast food
> drives or carrying drinks.

That went under years ago. It was named Nola, I think. For N.O., LA.
Confusing because doesn't Emeril have one with that name? Now I have to
go look. Ah, it was NYLA. Anyway, it crashed and burned amid some
legal trouble. Whoda thunk.

nancy

Goomba38 wrote:
> Margaret Suran wrote:
>
>> What do you consider a celebrity restaurant? One that is owned or
>> part owned by someone well known, perhaps a sports star, as Michael
>> Jordan's Steak Restaurants or a well known chef like Batali, who has
>> several restaurants in New York City?
>
>
> I was thinking of famous people who didn't become famous for their food
> originally. That leaves out Mario Batali and the Paula Deen types. I
> didn't even know Michael Jordon had a steak restaurant. I am curious to
> hear about what influences a celebrity has on the running of a
> restaurant other than giving it their name?

Traditionally, retired sports celebrities have had many restaurants,
at least in New York City. Jack Dempsey had a restaurant in New York
City and of course, he was the big attraction. Passing by, you could
look through the windows and see him sitting inside, always surrounded
by his fans.

He also had a much more famous place in New Orleans and it may still
be in business, or at least until last year's hurricane.

Don Shula, the great football player and later the legendary coach of
the Miami Dolphins has very successful restaurants in Miami and also
in New Orleans, or had one there. These kinds of places are always
busy, if there is a chance to see the celebrity owner and walk away
with an autograph or two. The food is usually good, even if the owner
has little or nothing to do with it.

There used to be dozens of places in New York City about twenty or so
years ago, but most are gone now, owned by sports figures that had
been very popular and thought they could be successful restaurateurs .

Rod Gilbert, the great N.Y. Rangers Ice Hockey Player had a bar across
the street from where I live. Boomer Esaison, the quarterback who
played for the Bengals and the Jets had a sports bar on the Upper West
Side. Fans didn't go there for the food, which was pretty awful, but
to mingle with the other fans, the owners and visiting sports
celebrities. I went to Boomer's a few times, for Charity events.

Probably one of the most famous places is Mickey Mantle's restaurant.
It still exists and is doing very well. I have been there many
times, all for charity events which included (every time) a terrific
open bar with good booze and wine ) and a buffet dinner which was
praised by others, but for which I didn't care. The sports figure who
hosted the charity dinners and whose guests Marcel and I were, no
longer plays for the N. Y. Yankees or the N. Y. Mets (he played for
both teams but retired a few years ago) and he no longer hosts these
dinners.

Even Pete Rose has or had a place, but he was not always in the mood
to autograph his guests' memorabilia, which caused no end of bad
press. As his place was not in New York City, I do not know how the
food was.

The one baseball player who had a restaurant because of his love for
good food was Rusty Staub, Le Grand Orange, who ended his career in
New York with the Mets. He had a small restaurant a couple of blocks
from where I live and cooked his famous ribs there. He was there all
the time, cooking near the window, so all passers by could see, come
inside and taste the ribs. He later had a restaurant on Fifth Avenue
in the 50's and when that closed, he would come and prepare desserts
in a friend's place on East 79th Street, Les Trois Jeans. The food in
all three places was really good.

I have a feeling, Goomba, that this is much more than you wanted to
know. )

On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:21:59 -0400, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>Jennifer Lopez opened up Madre's in
>years ago and the food was said to be Puerto Rican influenced which
>could be of interest to me, but I've not heard any news of it since.

Here's the web site
http://www.madresrestaurant.com/

I wouldn't turn down a chance to try it!
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=2279

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Dine/Madres.shtml

Goomba38 wrote:
> After my recent foray into Paula Deen's restaurant and the discussions
> here since.
> I loved B.B.King's in Memphis (enjoyed the food, loved the music and
> atmosphere) although wasn't terribly impressed with Issac Hayes
> restaurant there. It was okay, but not anything to write home about.
> I know there are many other establishments owned by celebrities, but
> unsure how much of themselves are "in" the place?
> Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
> food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
> business for that passion?
> What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY?

I'm pretty sure Ms. Spears' eatery in NYC is no more. I believe both
Alice Cooper and Morgan Freeman have successful restaurants. Coopers is
centered around barbecue I believe, and Freemans features southern/soul
food.

In article >,
The Bubbo > wrote:

> Goomba38 wrote:
> > After my recent foray into Paula Deen's restaurant and the discussions
> > here since.
> > I loved B.B.King's in Memphis (enjoyed the food, loved the music and
> > atmosphere) although wasn't terribly impressed with Issac Hayes
> > restaurant there. It was okay, but not anything to write home about.
> > I know there are many other establishments owned by celebrities, but
> > unsure how much of themselves are "in" the place?
> > Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
> > food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
> > business for that passion?
> > What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY? Does the Pop-Tart
> > even EAT good food? All I see of her are photos of her going through
> > fast food drives or carrying drinks. Jennifer Lopez opened up Madre's in
> > years ago and the food was said to be Puerto Rican influenced which
> > could be of interest to me, but I've not heard any news of it since.
> > Anyone here eat at a "celebrity" place lately? How was it?
>
> I loves Isaac Hayes' place in memphis simply for the red glitter circle
> booths. As for the food, I don't remember, i was traveling with a (very self
> righteous) vegan and a vegetarian and most meals made me want to punch people,
> especially if sharing was involved.

Planet Hollywood is owned by a bunch of movie stars. Years ago, I ate
lunch at the Planet Hollywood in Washington DC and it was uninspired. A
couple of years after that, a few friends begged me to go with them to
try the Planet Hollywood at Disney World's Pleasure Island when we were
at Disney World on vacation. I tagged along and the food I ate for
dinner turned out to be quite good.

In article >,
Goomba38 > wrote: I
> didn't even know Michael Jordon had a steak restaurant. I am curious to
> hear about what influences a celebrity has on the running of a
> restaurant other than giving it their name?

My guess is that covers it,
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller
http://jamlady.eboard.com

Oh pshaw, on Sun 24 Sep 2006 07:04:36p, Steve Wertz meant to say...

> On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:21:59 -0400, Goomba38 wrote:
>
>> Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
>> food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
>> business for that passion?
>
> You can pretty much bet that unless they're a celebrity chef,
> then they take no part in the operating of the restaurant. Heck,
> it probably wasn't even their idea, but rather their publicists.
>
> Even with the celebrity chefs, I think most of them are quite
> distant from the day-to-day operation taking no part in the
> operation except maybe dictating recipes and training the
> sous-chefs to make them to specs. The more involved ones would
> be the Executive Chefs of course, and between those would be the
> 'Chefs de Cuisine' - but still distant, relying mostly on the
> sous and executive.
>
> A non-chef celebrity restaurant is of NO interest to me. I'm not
> that gullible.
>
> -sw

I think the draw for many celebrity owned restaurants is the hope of seeing
that celebrity in person, which is often the case. People who are drawn to
non-chef celebrity restuarants are probably far less interested in the food
than in the celebrity. Not my cup of tea.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Recent polls reveal that some people have never
been polled. Until recently. --George Carlin

In article >,
Steve Wertz > wrote:


> A non-chef celebrity restaurant is of NO interest to me. I'm not
> that gullible.


We here in California *are* in fact that gullible. In fact, we take
ex-actors (and not all that good of ones) and make them very high level
politicians. Running a restaurant must be easier than running a state
or country.

--
Dan Abel

Petaluma, California, USA

Margaret Suran > wrote:
>Don Shula, the great football player and later the legendary coach of
>the Miami Dolphins has very successful restaurants in Miami and also

Buddy Ryan's son had a place in Phoenix when Buddy
was the coach of the Cardinals. I never went, and
apparently neither did anyone else.

Steve Stone, announcer for the Cubs, opened a "Mexican"
restaurant a mile or so from me. Worst Mexican food and
most disastrous service I've ever encountered. I hear
he owns several other places in Phoenix (there's a heavy
Chicago/Phoenix cross-pollination, due mostly I believe
to Motorola, which is a Chicago-area giant and was a huge
employer here as well for decades, but now owns almost
nothing in Phoenix).

Dan Majerle's downtown bar & grill is still very successful.

It's a few blocks from Alice Cooper'stown, which is more
associated with the baseball park, but physically closer
to the basketball arena.

Celebrities get into restaurants because they have lots
of spare cash to "invest", and restaurant concepts are
easy to sell, just point to all the super-successful ones,
the thousands of break-even ones in any town, and try not
to go near mentioning the 30-50% that crash and burn in
their first year. Then you hit them with "all you do is
put some of your money into it, then we use your name to
help market it." Few celebrities can resist the ego-boost
of thinking right then, "yeah, my name will be the most
valuable asset you have."

--Blair

Christopher Helms > wrote:
>I'm pretty sure Ms. Spears' eatery in NYC is no more. I believe both
>Alice Cooper and Morgan Freeman have successful restaurants. Coopers is
>centered around barbecue I believe, and Freemans features southern/soul
>food.

Alice Coopers'town has ribs. They're not bad. I give them
a 4 or 5 out of 10. But I'm very critical when it comes
to ribs. Sonny Bryan's is only a 9, as is Railhead, but
if you could put Sonny Bryan's sauce on Railhead's meat,
there's your 10.

But otherwise it's a bar-and-ballpark food kind of place.
Not really focussed on smokehouse. Oh wait....here's the
menu, complete with heavy-metal anthem:

http://www.alicecooperstown.com/menu/index.htm

Yeah. They're not leaving anyone saying "I can't find
what I want, here."

And yes, "The Big Unit" is totally obscene.

--Blair

Goomba38 wondered:

> I was thinking of famous people who didn't become famous for their food
> originally. That leaves out Mario Batali and the Paula Deen types. I
> didn't even know Michael Jordon had a steak restaurant. I am curious to
> hear about what influences a celebrity has on the running of a restaurant
> other than giving it their name?

I'm sure it varies from celebrity to celebrity. In fact, I can think of two
countering examples: NFL player Junior Seau opened a sports-themed
restaurant in San Diego, but didn't pay much attention to how it was run,
and didn't provide much input on its menu. In contrast to that, rock star
Sammy Hagar puts a *lot* of time and effort into shaping the restaurants he
owns.

Bob

Heather wrote:

> I loves Isaac Hayes' place in memphis simply for the red glitter circle
> booths. As for the food, I don't remember, i was traveling with a (very
> self
> righteous) vegan and a vegetarian and most meals made me want to punch
> people,
> especially if sharing was involved.

Did you REALLY have to eat all your meals in their hostile, disapproving,
and judgmental company? I've been traveling with similar people, and I
always establish at the outset that we'll each fend for ourselves at meal
times, because there's no point in having a meal where EVERYBODY is
miserable when it doesn't have to be like that.

Bob

Goomba38 wrote:

> I'm just not nuts about the Memphis style of "dry" ribs over "wet" ones.

It's not all that difficult to find wet ribs in Memphis. Or were you saying
that Isaac Hayes' restaurant only served dry ribs?

Bob

Dan wrote:

>> A non-chef celebrity restaurant is of NO interest to me. I'm not
>> that gullible.
>
> We here in California *are* in fact that gullible. In fact, we take
> ex-actors (and not all that good of ones) and make them very high level
> politicians. Running a restaurant must be easier than running a state
> or country.

My sister took me to Arnold Schwarzenegger's restaurant in Los Angeles for
brunch once. It wasn't horrible, but not particularly inspired, either.

Bob

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:23:15 +0000, Steve Wertz wrote:


>
> Texas may get Kinky Friedman for Governor.

Kinky ain't going to happen in Texas. He IS funny but lite on brains.


OBFOOD:

Las Vegas is FULL of celebrity chef restaurants. Most of them have
probably seen the places a time or two at most. We tried Thomas Keller's
Bouchon and it was actually excellent and the service was great.

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> Heather wrote:
>
>> I loves Isaac Hayes' place in memphis simply for the red glitter circle
>> booths. As for the food, I don't remember, i was traveling with a (very
>> self
>> righteous) vegan and a vegetarian and most meals made me want to punch
>> people,
>> especially if sharing was involved.
>
> Did you REALLY have to eat all your meals in their hostile, disapproving,
> and judgmental company? I've been traveling with similar people, and I
> always establish at the outset that we'll each fend for ourselves at meal
> times, because there's no point in having a meal where EVERYBODY is
> miserable when it doesn't have to be like that.
>
> Bob
>
>

Only the vegan was hostile and disapproving the vegetarian just had massive
food issues (no meat, no carbs, no sugar, no raw vegetables). I really should
have left them to their own devices, I've learned that I'm far too nice, I'm
always trying to make things good for other people.

--
..:Heather:.
www.velvet-c.com
I thought I was driving by Gettysburg once but it ends up I was just driving
by your mom's house.

Bob Terwilliger wrote:

> Did you REALLY have to eat all your meals in their hostile, disapproving,
> and judgmental company? I've been traveling with similar people, and I
> always establish at the outset that we'll each fend for ourselves at meal
> times, because there's no point in having a meal where EVERYBODY is
> miserable when it doesn't have to be like that.

There is an expression about company being like fish. It goes bad in three
days. The same goes for travel. I A few years ago I went on a trip to Europe
with my brothers and their wives. It was bad enough that everything had to
be a group agreement, but there there was one SiL who had to heave her own
way all the time, and her tastes are different from mine. much different.
After a week of urging to go along with them as if I was the difficult one, I
just had to have some alone time. That was my last group trip.

Margaret Suran wrote:

> The one baseball player who had a restaurant because of his love for
> good food was Rusty Staub, Le Grand Orange, who ended his career in New
> York with the Mets. He had a small restaurant a couple of blocks from
> where I live and cooked his famous ribs there. He was there all the
> time, cooking near the window, so all passers by could see, come inside
> and taste the ribs. He later had a restaurant on Fifth Avenue in the
> 50's and when that closed, he would come and prepare desserts in a
> friend's place on East 79th Street, Les Trois Jeans. The food in all
> three places was really good.
>
> I have a feeling, Goomba, that this is much more than you wanted to
> know. )
>
>

NOT at all! That is exactly what I wanted to hear! Someone who got into
it because they liked food, not because it was a business venture.

Burt Bacharach used to own a place near my family home, but I never went.

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article >,
> Goomba38 > wrote: I
>> didn't even know Michael Jordon had a steak restaurant. I am curious to
>> hear about what influences a celebrity has on the running of a
>> restaurant other than giving it their name?
>
> My guess is that covers it,

ohhhhhhhhhh that is sooooooo pessimistic! lol

Steve Wertz wrote:

> I thought there were a lot of PH's around, but there's only 6 in
> the US (18 in all). The one here in Austin only lasted 2 years
> or so. Thankfully.
>
> Maybe they come and go so quick they don't have time to update
> the website except for the most popular locations.

PH has about the same attraction (little!) to me as Hard Rock Cafe did.
Over priced and mediocre. But we had some of their tee shirts saying
"Hard Rock Cafe <Kuwait City>" wayyyyyyy back in 93 or so.

Blair P. Houghton wrote:

> Steve Stone, announcer for the Cubs, opened a "Mexican"
> restaurant a mile or so from me. Worst Mexican food and
> most disastrous service I've ever encountered. I hear
> he owns several other places in Phoenix (there's a heavy
> Chicago/Phoenix cross-pollination, due mostly I believe
> to Motorola, which is a Chicago-area giant and was a huge
> employer here as well for decades, but now owns almost
> nothing in Phoenix).

I've eaten many WONDERFUL meals at Nancy Lopez's country club in The
Villages, FL. She lives right there so had a strong hand in it, I hear?

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> Goomba38 wrote:
>
>> I'm just not nuts about the Memphis style of "dry" ribs over "wet" ones.
>
> It's not all that difficult to find wet ribs in Memphis. Or were you saying
> that Isaac Hayes' restaurant only served dry ribs?
>
I went with the purpose of trying them, as I'd heard of them but not had
any yet. I'm always willing to try the local specialties. I just found I
prefer "wet" to "dry"
I enjoyed the ribs at B.B.Kings more than the ribs at Isaac Hayes place.

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> Goomba38 wrote:
>
>> I'm just not nuts about the Memphis style of "dry" ribs over "wet"
>> ones.
>
> It's not all that difficult to find wet ribs in Memphis. Or were you
> saying that Isaac Hayes' restaurant only served dry ribs?
>
> Bob

I prefer dry ribs but you can certainly find wet ribs all over the place
here. Corky's immediately comes to mind. But it's not a celebrity
restaurant and it's become a franchise so you can find it in other states in
the mid-south, too. I've never cared for Corky's, probably because my
former employer *always* had food catered by Corky's for any office event.
Most of us got "Corky'd out" real fast. And I'm 99% sure their "famous"
beans were actually Trappey's jalapeno bbq beans.

Jill

"jay" > wrote in message
news
> On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:23:15 +0000, Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>
>>
>> Texas may get Kinky Friedman for Governor.
>
> Kinky ain't going to happen in Texas. He IS funny but lite on brains.

Kinky Friedman, light on brains? You have to be
joking.

Of course, since when was being light on brains any
indication that you couldn't get elected Governor of
Texas? Seems to me they've had a least one of that
type who wound up getting sent to a big white house
in Washington...;-)

Bob M.
>
>
> OBFOOD:
>
> Las Vegas is FULL of celebrity chef restaurants. Most of them have
> probably seen the places a time or two at most. We tried Thomas Keller's
> Bouchon and it was actually excellent and the service was great.

Goomba38 wrote:
> After my recent foray into Paula Deen's restaurant and the discussions
> here since.
> I loved B.B.King's in Memphis (enjoyed the food, loved the music and
> atmosphere) although wasn't terribly impressed with Issac Hayes
> restaurant there. It was okay, but not anything to write home about.
> I know there are many other establishments owned by celebrities, but
> unsure how much of themselves are "in" the place?
> Are they strictly business ventures or expressions of their passion for
> food? Who among them really knows food and puts themselves into the
> business for that passion?
> What ever happened to Britney Spear's place in NY? Does the Pop-Tart
> even EAT good food? All I see of her are photos of her going through
> fast food drives or carrying drinks. Jennifer Lopez opened up Madre's in
> years ago and the food was said to be Puerto Rican influenced which
> could be of interest to me, but I've not heard any news of it since.
> Anyone here eat at a "celebrity" place lately? How was it?

There's a cool place inm greenwich Village that my parents like. It's
called grandpa's Place, and it's owned by Grandpa Muenster. Apparently,
he hosts and is pretty involved in his self-shrine =) They say the food
is decent and atmosphere is fun.

Goomba38 wrote:

>
> > Maybe they come and go so quick they don't have time to update
> > the website except for the most popular locations.
>
> PH has about the same attraction (little!) to me as Hard Rock Cafe did.
> Over priced and mediocre. But we had some of their tee shirts saying
> "Hard Rock Cafe <Kuwait City>" wayyyyyyy back in 93 or so.

What is it about Hard Rock Cafe. Once year when we went on a trip to Paris
and left my nephew to dog sit for us he wanted us to bring back a Hard Rock
Cafe T shirt from Paris. We found the place and it seemed as much a gift
shop as a restaurant. We had a nice lunch in an outdoor cafe next door then
got the Tshirt. A few hours later a German tourist saw the bag and asked
where the store was. I don't get it. If I am going to wear a Tshirt to
advertise for a restaurant they are going to give it to me as a gift when I
eat there. I am not paying to advertise for them.

Jude wrote:
>
> There's a cool place inm greenwich Village that my parents like.
> It's called grandpa's Place, and it's owned by Grandpa Muenster.
> Apparently, he hosts and is pretty involved in his self-shrine =)
> They say the food is decent and atmosphere is fun.

He died in February:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Lewis

> Anyone here eat at a "celebrity" place lately? How was it?

If you count Jim Lovell (the astronaut) as a celebrity, then there's
Lovell's of Lake Forest in suburban Chicago. Jim's son is the executive
chef; I assume his dad set him up with this restaurant when he got out
of chef school, got some experience, and was ready to try his own
place. The food is very very good, Jim shows up frequently to meet and
greet the patrons, and there is lots of cool space memorabilia around
to look at. It is a very nice restaurant completely apart from the
celebrity factor, and I believe that's why it has done well over the
years.

Scooter

Mark Thorson wrote:

> Jude wrote:
> >
> > There's a cool place inm greenwich Village that my parents like.
> > It's called grandpa's Place, and it's owned by Grandpa Muenster.
> > Apparently, he hosts and is pretty involved in his self-shrine =)
> > They say the food is decent and atmosphere is fun.
>
> He died in February:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Lewis


Grandpa Munster will live FOREVER...!!!

--
Best
Greg

In article >,
Goomba38 > wrote:

> Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> > In article >,
> > Goomba38 > wrote: I
> >> didn't even know Michael Jordon had a steak restaurant. I am curious to
> >> hear about what influences a celebrity has on the running of a
> >> restaurant other than giving it their name?
> >
> > My guess is that covers it,
>
> ohhhhhhhhhh that is sooooooo pessimistic! lol

Nope. Just a realist. <g>
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller
http://jamlady.eboard.com

Goomba38 > wrote:
>NOT at all! That is exactly what I wanted to hear! Someone who got into
>it because they liked food, not because it was a business venture.

Cathy Moriarty. I've always wanted to walk into her
diner and see her in an apron holding a huge, chili-
crusted spoon.

But I don't live in LA.

--Blair

Dave Smith > wrote:
>What is it about Hard Rock Cafe.

It was cool when it was the only one and it was in the Beverly
Mall and it had that Cadillac sticking out of the roof, and the
view up the street to the Capitol Records building.

Crap. When was I there for that? It wasn't the time I
drove to LA to visit my dad in the hospital. It was one
time I must've flown in because I had his car most of
the week. I have no recollection of when or why, though.

>Once year when we went on a trip to Paris
>and left my nephew to dog sit for us he wanted us to bring back a Hard Rock
>Cafe T shirt from Paris. We found the place and it seemed as much a gift
>shop as a restaurant. We had a nice lunch in an outdoor cafe next door then
>got the Tshirt. A few hours later a German tourist saw the bag and asked
>where the store was. I don't get it. If I am going to wear a Tshirt to
>advertise for a restaurant they are going to give it to me as a gift when I
>eat there. I am not paying to advertise for them.

Especially when you can get the HR Paris shirts in any
of the restaurants, online, or in a bunch of non-HR T-shirt
stores...

--Blair

Dave Smith > wrote:
>There is an expression about company being like fish. It goes bad in three
>days.

I think a bigger freezer would help with that.

--Blair
"To-day is a GOOD day for sci-ence!"
-Dexter

Bob Myers > wrote:
>
>"jay" > wrote in message
>news
>> On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:23:15 +0000, Steve Wertz wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Texas may get Kinky Friedman for Governor.
>>
>> Kinky ain't going to happen in Texas. He IS funny but lite on brains.
>
>Kinky Friedman, light on brains? You have to be
>joking.

He's okay for brains. Just light on serious political
savvy. Advocating the total legalization of grass isn't
going to get you into office in Texas.

>Of course, since when was being light on brains any
>indication that you couldn't get elected Governor of
>Texas? Seems to me they've had a least one of that
>type who wound up getting sent to a big white house
>in Washington...;-)

But he had Karl Rove, who is the Goebbels of our age.

--Blair