201944 Wed Jun 18 11:25:52 -0700 2003 14 18 Manhattan 0 1076792 As you know, a fair number of chefs with fancy restaurants have opened up additional restaurants in the city which are cheaper and more casual. Mario Batali, for instance, has Babbo and Lupa, Esca & Otto, Charlie Palmer has Aureole and now Kitchen 22 and Kitchen 82, Tom Colicchio has Craft and Craft Bar & Wichcraft, etc. What chef with an established restaurant would you like to see open a casual less expensive place? The reason I ask is that I work for a real estate developer who happens to have a large (5,000 rsf plus a 2,000 rsf mezzanine) waterfront restaurant space available in DUMBO that I think would be perfect for that type of restaurant, but I'm having trouble thinking of Manhattan and non-Manhattan chefs to contact and would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks in advance! Link: http://www.dumbo-newyork.com/ Wed Jun 18 11:25:52 -0700 2003 0 Louise 1 1076803 Go all out - Boulud, Bouley, Daniel. The trick would be to get the Manhattan contingent over the bridge! Great idea, love DUMBO, good luck. Wed Jun 18 12:14:52 -0700 2003 1076792 0 billyblancoNYC 1 1076811 Without a doubt, Jeffrey Zakarian from Town. Would love to see him do something new. Wed Jun 18 12:32:21 -0700 2003 1076792 0 barbara 1 1076815 I believe famed pastry chef Jacques Torres (Food TV) already has a shop in DUMBO at 66 Water St. I recommend you chat with Jacques and get his opinion. The guy is a legend and might be open to a new enterprise. Regards, --steve I've added a link to Jacques' bio. Link: http://www.jacquestorres.com/jacques.html Wed Jun 18 12:50:12 -0700 2003 1076792 0 Steve 2 1076827 Yes, love Jacques Torres. He is right down the street from the vacant restaurant space. It's a struggle to stay out of his shop and away from his chocolates - and my scale seems to think I lose this struggle way too often. Jacques just leased a whole bunch of additional space, so I don't think he's interested, but thanks for the idea!! Keep 'em coming! Wed Jun 18 14:15:47 -0700 2003 1076815 0 Louise 3 1076836 Jacques is a pretty smart guy and knows everybody. I would definitely ask his advice. I understand he also makes the best hot chocolate in town. A long shot, but a good one, is chatting up Bobby Flay. New York needs a great BBQ place and he might be open to the suggestion. You, of course, would have to guarantee all the permits so he could do it right. Good luck, --steve Wed Jun 18 15:03:14 -0700 2003 1076827 0 Steve 1 1076819 The guys at Diner in Wmsburg are ambitious and do a good job. And they already believe in Bklyn obviously. Other ideas: Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune; Batali himself. I think most anyone would consider the deal. Wed Jun 18 13:27:13 -0700 2003 1076792 0 Jack Barber 1 1076842 I think Douglas Rodriguez and a restaurant/tapas bar similar to Pipa would do well in Dumbo. Wed Jun 18 16:05:35 -0700 2003 1076792 0 Evan 2 1076846 I want to second that. There aren't any tapas-type restaurants in that immediate area in Brooklyn. I think tapas are a "destination" type dining experience, just the way Dumbo is a "destination" place to go eat. If you don't live there, you aren't as likely to go out of your way to eat there, and its not a natural neighborhood to happen to walk through to grab a bite, unless you're walking across the Bklyn Bridge. When you ask people to go out of their way to eat, the overall experience should be something undeniably special, and not something they could already get. I think the Jean Georges, Boulud-type recommendations are a bit off, because River Cafe is already down there. You already have a restaurant there that is lumped into that "great NYC restaurants" category. To put in another one puts you in direct competition with River Cafe. I think you want something great but different -- hence the agreement with Douglas Rodriguez and the tapas recommendation. I also think Bobby Flay could work. Because both these chefs have developed restaurants that offer "cuisine with a twist" -- fusion cuisine that isn't trying to be best in category, because it doesn't have a category. You could say fusion is a category, but there are so many cuisines that are "fused" that you can't really compare them all. When you have food that can't be categorized, you have a destination dining experience. Which should work out well with a destination location like Dumbo. Wed Jun 18 16:24:41 -0700 2003 1076842 0 at203 3 1076855 Actually, the owner of the big white building on the corner next to Five Front is rumored to be putting in a tapas restaurant there. if that happens, it would be tough to pull off 2 in such a small area; but otherwise, it's a great thought. Wed Jun 18 17:42:38 -0700 2003 1076846 0 Louise 4 1076921 OK, didn't know that. I think this is such an interesting question -- I am somewhat obsessed with Brooklyn restaurants and neighborhoods, and how they intertwine to create character. So I went to sleep thinking about this last night. And my latest thought, though it is contrary to my prior recommendation about doing something out of the ordinary, is Scott Bryan of Veritas. He is highly respected, but isn't out trying to build an empire of himself like Bobby Flay and Terrence Brennan. However, going with the destination dining reco, Patricia Yeo recently left AZ and Pazo, the former which was highly revered as a fusion restaurant. You might want to try her. Thu Jun 19 13:11:37 -0700 2003 1076855 0 at203 5 1076938 I was also thinking about Scott Bryan from Veritas. He is an excellent chef and Veritas is held in very high regards, especially from other chefs. And as far as Bobby Flay, I read that he likes to walk to his restaurants from his apartment, which would explain the locations of Bolo and Mesa Grill, so Brooklyn might be out of the question for him. Thu Jun 19 14:37:07 -0700 2003 1076921 0 Evan 6 1076941 (changed my "name" after I saw the Tatayna postings today). Thanks both of you. Scott Bryan is an interesting idea. I've wanted to go to Veritas, because I too have heard terrific things - esp. from Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential". Patricia Yeo is not a bad idea either, except we'd prefer a more casual inexpensive place than AZ & Pazo (we're a little more scruffy and downtown than Sex and the City - although they filmed a new episode and their promo for their new season in Dumbo), but if she'd consider it, we'd love to talk with her. Now I have to figure out how to get in touch with her . . . Thu Jun 19 15:00:25 -0700 2003 1076938 0 LouiseL 1 1076845 Danny Meyer's restaurants are always winners. You may want to approach him - although he is really committed to the Madison Square Park area at this point. Steve Hanson is always opening new spots too. Personally, I would LOVE it if the folks that own Planet Thailand and Joya would expand into DUMBO. They have a winning combination on their hands - great Thai food (and good Japanese too at PT), groovy atmosphere and low prices. Might rain on Rice's parade a bit, but I think their is room enough for both. Wed Jun 18 16:18:39 -0700 2003 1076792 0 LBG 1 1076847 That's a big space. i think only Steve hanson (Dos Caminos, Ruby Foos, Fiamma) and Danny Meyer (Blue SMoke) would have the machinery to pull-out an operation in that locale. Though, you might also want to try the owners of Mermaid Inn, The Harrisson and Red Cat...they seem to be the experts in neighborhood joints. Wed Jun 18 16:28:01 -0700 2003 1076792 0 Mirepoix