All posts containing the tag: "top chef"
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.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Exclusives
Tags: fabio viviani, FabioViviani, top chef, TopChef
Posted Aug 6th 2009 2:45PM by TMZ Staff
Michelle and Malia Obama stepped out of the White House to satisfy one of the First Lady's biggest cravings: Hamburgers and shakes.
We're told the two chowed down on burgers, fries, onion rings and a variety of shakes -- cocoa, vanilla, toasted marshmallow and Milky Way -- at Good Stuff Eatery, the restaurant owned by former "Top Chef" contestant Spike Mendelsohn.
As for the Secret Service -- they just watched. No eating for them.
FYI -- the onion rings got the First Lady Seal of Approval.
Filed under: Barack Obama, Politix
Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, good stuff eatery, GoodStuffEatery, malia obama, MaliaObama, michelle obama, MichelleObama, spike mendelshon, SpikeMendelshon, top chef, TopChef
Posted May 23rd 2009 11:35AM by TMZ Staff
The Washington D.C. chef Michelle Obama seems to adore has just figured out the double meaning of sous chef.
Famed D.C. chef Spike Mendelsohn -- a former "Top Chef" contestant and owner of Good Stuff Eatery -- got smack in the middle of an apartment eviction today -- and two of his sous chefs are to blame.
Here's what we know: Approximately two years ago, Spike and the two chefs rented an apartment in D.C. together, and Spike signed the lease. Eight months ago, Spike moved out to live with his GF, but his name remained on the lease.
Fast forward a few months -- the two chefs stopped paying rent. This morning the marshals came callin', unlocked the door and threw them out. We're assuming the marshals did this after the landlord won an eviction case.
Problem is, Spike is on the lease -- which means he's on the hook for the back rent which is approximately $8,000.
A rep for Spike tells us he knew nothing about the case until we called today. The rep says the two chefs admitted to Spike this evening they fell "a few months behind" in rent, but didn't tell him until now.
Now here's the best part: The two chefs are working behind the grill at the restaurant tonight. We advise they just jump on it.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: good eats, GoodEats, spike mendelsohn, SpikeMendelsohn, top chef, TopChef, video
Posted Nov 1st 2008 5:00AM by TMZ Staff
Somethin' is cooking in the kitchen and it ain't brownies.
A petition was recently filed against a season 4 "Top Chef" finalist Richard Blais, by Samantha, a woman he dated for three years in high school who claims she had his child. Blais' name is on the birth certificate as the father.
The child is now 17 and Samantha claims Blais has never paid a cent of child support. The petition is asking for support beginning now until she is 21, medical coverage for the girl, and half of her college tuition.
Here's the rub -- Blais is currently married and welcomed a new baby this year. His lawyer tells us, "This matter involves Richard and a woman he knew 20 years ago and he's cooperating fully with the judicial system. Richard has always accepted his responsibilities and once this matter is concluded he will continue any responsibilities he may have."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: richard blais, RichardBlais, top chef, TopChef
Posted Sep 24th 2008 6:04PM by TMZ Staff
A "Top Chef" wannabeen just opened a fancy burger joint in D.C. One little problem -- the meat's been spotted outside the bun, and the kitchen, for that matter.
Good Stuff, the restaurant just opened by Spike Mendelsohn from season four of the Bravo cook-off, got cited by the D.C. Department of Health for keeping its meat in an alleyway instead of in a fridge. A picture on WTOP showed food sitting in an alleyway on a day when it was 90 degrees out.
We talked to a Good Stuff staffer this morning who told us there's no meat to the allegations -- he says the picture was taken right after a delivery, and it was quickly taken inside. So that's where the Angus comes from.
Filed under: Food Glorious Food
Tags: department of health, DepartmentOfHealth, Good Stuff, GoodStuff, restaurant, Spike Mendelsohn, SpikeMendelsohn, Top Chef, TopChef
Posted Jan 29th 2008 11:25AM by TMZ Staff
"Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi turned the sidewalk into her very own project runway outside the Waverly Inn on Monday.
The ex-Mrs. Salman Rushdie is so hot -- she can even brave a cold 30-degree New York night in a spaghetti-strap dress!
Filed under: Beauty, Reality TV
Tags: Padma Lakshmi, PadmaLakshmi, Top Chef, TopChef
Posted Nov 16th 2007 3:14PM by TMZ Staff
The former "Top Chef" wannabe who was the victim of an alleged gay-bashing is livid that cops haven't made charges stick on their suspects -- and now Josie Malave-Smith is sticking it to the popo with a formal complaint.
Malave-Smith, in a statement obtained by TMZ, slams the Nassau County Police Department for their "poor" handling of her case, and says she's "disheartened" by the inability of cops to charge the suspects, whom she claims to have already ID'd in lineups.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV
Tags: Josie Smith-Malave, JosieSmith-malave, Top Chef, TopChef
Posted Sep 14th 2007 11:40AM by TMZ Staff
New details have emerged regarding the vicious attack on "Top Chef" contestant Josie Smith-Malave and her friends over Labor Day weekend. Nassau County police department reported that they've arrested Matthew W. Wall, 20, of Oregon, and charged him with second degree robbery and a bias crime. He was arraigned yesterday.
Police report that Wall, along with approximately twelve of his friends, were involved in a confrontation with Smith-Malave and three of her female friends. The altercation escalated when Wall and his posse allegedly began spitting and hitting the four women and making derogatory statements about their sexual orientation.
According to the police report, Wall "forcibly stole a video camera from one of the four, causing her to fall and injure her knee." The investigation is ongoing.
Smith-Malave appeared on the second season of "Top Chef" and was rejected in episode five.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: josie smith-malave, JosieSmith-malave, top chef, TopChef
