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'Top Chef' Fabio - My Old Boss Is a Jerk, Chicken

Posted Sep 27th 2009 1:45AM by TMZ Staff

'Top Chef' fan favorite winner Fabio Viviani claims his old business partner quick-fired him for all the wrong reasons -- and now he's suing the guy for everything and the kitchen sink.

Fabio and a guy named Jacopo Falleni are going after Michael Takeda -- because they claim Michael promised them handsome rewards for helping him start a restaurant in 2006 ... but never got squat.

In the lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Ventura County, Fabio and Jacopo say they worked 130-140 hours a week for six months getting Cafe Firenze off the ground -- and were promised 15% ownership of the joint and $4,000 a month for their hard work.

And there's this: Fabio claims he's the reason the place got popular ... because after his stint on "Top Chef," business skyrocketed from a half-million dollars a year to nearly $4 million.

In the lawsuit, the fellas claim Takeda chickened out when it came to paying them the 4k a month and never acknowledged their 15% ownership.

They are suing for unspecified damages.

Tags: fabio viviani, FabioViviani, top chef, TopChef

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1. what a clown

2099 Hip Hop. Com

Posted at 1:47AM on Sep 27th 2009 by the ending

2. Third!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 1:48AM on Sep 27th 2009 by Simone

3. I'm sure the guy's a dirtbag but don't claim you worked 20 hours a day for 6 months. Please.

Posted at 1:50AM on Sep 27th 2009 by bob

4. this definitely calls for a chef kooky recipe!!!

Posted at 2:56AM on Sep 27th 2009 by sandy eggo

5. One interesting part of this story that you left out: Takeda is also Fabio's father-in-law.

Posted at 5:50AM on Sep 27th 2009 by carlarox

6. Fabio is right in his reason the place got popular because after his stint on "Top Chef," business skyrocketed when it came to paying them the 4k a month and never acknowledged their 15% ownership.
http://attorneysmax.com/

Posted at 6:11AM on Sep 27th 2009 by Attorney Smith

7. HANDSOME REWARDS, HANDSOME REWARDS & MORE HANDSOME REWARDS.
WHO WAS THIS GUY DEALING WITH, SINBAD THE SAILOR.
I READ UP UNTIL THAT PART & INSTANTLY KNEW THIS GUY IS AN IDIOT. HANDSOME REWARDS,LOL LOL LOL

Posted at 9:40AM on Sep 27th 2009 by TONY

8. So was this supposed agreement put in writing? If not the guy is an idiot.

Posted at 11:47AM on Sep 27th 2009 by jeff

9. Cafe Firenze had terrible food and awful service. We were shocked. And, the bill was really high for nothing. We went ONLY because Fabio was supposedly the lead chef after watching him on Top Chef. Hopefully he opens a restaurant where he actually does the cooking.

Posted at 11:57AM on Sep 27th 2009 by Pam V.

10. balls

Posted at 12:10PM on Sep 27th 2009 by balls

11. "quick-fired" i get it. very punny.

Posted at 12:09PM on Sep 27th 2009 by SweetDee

12. Ya TMZ - investigate the in-law part of the story. We were wondering why Fabio hasn't been around.

Posted at 12:21AM on Sep 28th 2009 by Brittany

13. I would agree that the place only became so profitable because of the popularity of Fabio, what place wouldn't after his appearance on Top Chef? But only 4K a month for all the hard work that goes into being a chef and only 15% part ownership??? Please, that is nothing! And this is his father-in-law? Can't wait to see what becomes of this.

Posted at 2:28PM on Sep 27th 2009 by Whatever

14. This is gonna make the holiday season very interesting this year for this family. Fabio is married to Takeda's stepdaughter. This place was not that popular before Top Chef, and only $500k a year is not great for a large restaurant with a Martini bar. I only heard bad things about the restaurant before the appearance on Top Chef. Top Chef was the thing that kept this place up, with no more Fabio, Takeda should just take his money and close up shop. Most people that go to the restaurant come from out of town to have dinner from Fabio. I was shocked to hear that Fabio wasn't half owner, on the website and all his appearances it was implied that this was his restaurant and not simply a place he worked at.

Posted at 3:28PM on Sep 27th 2009 by ha

15. This year's Top Chef is so lame, the first thing I said to my husband is "I miss Fabio." Sorry he's having trouble, but it's great to see him again. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE me some Fabio!!!!!

Posted at 1:25PM on Sep 29th 2009 by softlipsgirl

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