Jean-Georges is saying “Au revoir” to Minneapolis
Posted on June 29th, 2009 – 12:35 PMBy Rick Nelson
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is checking out of the Chambers Hotel.
The star chef, whom Newsweek hailed “the Madonna of the kitchen,” landed in downtown Minneapolis in 2006, running the hotel’s Chambers Kitchen as well as the building’s food and beverage operations. Vongerichten’s company, Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges, is being replaced by D’Amico & Partners, the local culinary force behind Cafe Lurcat and Bar Lurcat, Campiello, Masa, D’Amico & Sons and an enormous catering operation. The company’s high-end flagship restaurant, D’Amico Cucina, closed on Saturday evening after a 22-year run.
“I’m a huge fan of both Jean-Georges and his food,” said Chambers owner Ralph Burnet in a statement. “We’ve had a nice run, and I think Jean-Georges has made an indelible impact on the Twin Cities restaurant scene.” Both Vongerichten and Burnet describe the severing of their relationship as amicable.
“We are thrilled to be working with Ralph and the Chambers,” said Richard D’Amico in a statement. “We are confident that we can develop restaurant, bar and catering concepts that complement the quality and creativity of the Chambers Hotel.”
They’re going to have to work fast, because Vongerichten and his crew are pulling out on July 20th. This isn’t exactly a down time for the globetrotting chef; Vongerichten’s company, which operates 18 restaurant properties around the world, is launching a steakhouse in Washington, D.C. this month and debuting a hotel restaurant in Park City, Utah in August. He’s also a partner in Co. (with Sullivan St. Bakery whiz Jim Leahy), a hugely popular new pizzeria in New York City.
No other details on the Vongerichten-D’Amico switch have been released, but the Chambers Kitchen name will disappear. Burnet’s other downtown Minneapolis hotel, the W in the landmark Foshay Tower, features its own locally-managed restaurant, Manny’s Steakhouse, owned by Minneapolis-based Parasole Restaurant Holdings.
7 Responses to "Jean-Georges is saying “Au revoir” to Minneapolis"
Well, that didn’t last long. Probably a circumstance of bad (economic) timing.
So where is Jean-Georges going? Is he really leaving the Twin Cities?
The food was overpriced for the quality. You could get better going down to the capital grill or palaminos not too far away. The hotel is nice, but the restaurant was not all that special.
Such a shame - it was easily one of the highest quality dining options around. The rice cracker crusted tuna is/was the best app in town. Rush over and check it out if you’ve never had it.
Another stupid move by the D’Amico monopoly. They’ve turned into a restaurant empire that continually fails to impress me and the fact that they are trying to fill Jean-Georges’s shoes is just plain stupid. Obviously we don’t have all the facts but the Chambers should’ve tried to get a young hot local chef or import their own. This move just downgraded the Chambers brand by visitors and locals alike. It’s a sad day for the real foodies of Minneapolis– I’ll be taking my hard earned cash and empty stomach to New York more often as a result. `
Join the “Foodies against D’Amicos” group on facebook to let them know how you feel. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95120574226&ref=mf
Yes, ’tis a pity! We considered JGV’s
Chamber’s Kitchen to be the very finest in quality every time and consistency was the keyword there. I guess we fans didn’t go often enough to help keep the lights on.
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