Famous Food

Zac Efron's friends are "worried sick" about the actor ... and none of them believe Zac drove to downtown L.A. in the middle of the night to get sushi -- they say there's no doubt he's fallen off the wagon again.

TMZ broke the story ... Zac ended up in an area of downtown L.A. that turns dangerous late at night, with transients and drug dealers out in force. Zac told cops his car ran out of gas, his "bodyguard" got attacked and when he went to help he got socked in the face.

Cops are skeptical, and it's echoed by Zac's friends. As one friend put it, "Zac's a loner. He goes out rarely and the idea of him driving for miles to go to some sushi restaurant in downtown L.A. after midnight is preposterous."

Several of Zac's friends tell us the so-called bodyguard is not a bodyguard at all. We've confirmed he's a convicted drug dealer who has been spending a lot of time with Zac recently ... despite warnings from friends.

There were a number of reports Zac went to rehab twice last year to kick his cocaine habit. But sources now tell us ... Zac NEVER went to rehab. Both times he went to a friend's house outside California and received private therapy --- but that's it.

Zac has lost friends in the last few months because they became frustrated that he was slipping off the rails again.

Miley Cyrus had a sweet weekend ... celebrating her Bangerz Tour stop in Miami with a sick cake that reportedly cost a cool $5,000 to make.

The cake -- which Miley and friends presumably scarfed down while partying at Cameo night club -- featured depictions of several tongues, a cat crying, a hot dog, and a teddy bear in a gold chain.

Bad for a wedding or a kid's birthday party ... but perfect for Miley.

UPDATE #1: Divine Delicacies Cakes, the folks that made the cake, tell TMZ the reason why it cost so much is that the Bangerz lettering on top was done with Swarovski crystals (which were not edible). They say the club footed the bill for the cake, which was red velvet inside and was capable of feeding 300 people (or 20 stoners).

Frank Ocean acted like he was hot sauce, but really ... he's mild.

As TMZ first reported, Chipotle sued Ocean, claiming they paid him the $212,500 as an advance to record a song for one of their commercials ... and then he bailed. Ocean responded to the suit by posting a photo to Tumblr of the settlement check ... with "F*** OFF" in the memo box.

But we found out ... Ocean didn't have the guac to carry through on his gangster move. A rep for Chipotle tells TMZ the settlement check they received from Ocean did NOT have the expletive in the memo line.

White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses admits ... it looks pretty incriminating -- carrying his luggage on the streets of D.C. after announcing he's quitting.

Our photog Colin did a masterful job -- we think -- getting the downlow on the resignation. Bill shoots down rumors he butted heads with Michelle Obama over sugary and buttery desserts -- he says they were more like partners in crime.

Bill doesn't seem to think you need butter and sugar for deliciousness ... Hmmm.

Bill's official reason for resigning in June -- he wants to spend more time with his husband in NYC .

Good job, Colin.

Paula Deen can drop all the n-bombs she wants ... DJ Paul is still down with the celebrity chef, and says he'd love to get in the kitchen with her today.

The Three 6 Mafia rapper -- slash chef and celeb caterer -- told us yesterday in NYC ... he's unfazed by the whole controversy surrounding Paula using the n-word.

Paul says he was hanging out with Deen at a food festival in NYC minutes before he got arrested in 2012, and added ... "I look at Paula Deen as a mom" ... and she can holla at him anytime.

But the Academy Award winner revealed the chef he wants more than a phone call from is Rachael Ray. You gotta hear his metaphor about his weenie and RR's pot ... classic.

CC Sabathia took the celebrity chef craze to a new level for his 33rd bday party -- because the whole thing was catered by Three 6 Mafia member (and Oscar winner) DJ Paul ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The party for the Yankees pitcher was insane -- it all went down at Phil Maloof's mansion in L.A. back in the Summer ... and we're told it was packed with superstars like Joba Chamberlain, Derek Jeter, Carl Crawford and Chris Brown.

But according to multiple sources, the best part was the food -- and the man responsible was DJ Paul ... who moonlights as a private chef for a TON of famous people when he's not in the studio.

"I'm good friends with the Maloofs," Paul tells TMZ Sports ... "A lot of times they'll pay me to come cook for their celebrity parties ... which, with them, is often."

Paul says he's rocked the kitchen for stars like Michael Phelps, the New England Patriots, the Yankees, Dodgers and more.

So, what was on the menu for CC's bash?

"I made spaghetti with a vodka marinara, barbeque chicken, sausage, ribs, carne asada," Paul said ... "Chris Brown went crazy over the spaghetti with the vodka sauce."

Paul says his celebrity friends are usually shocked when they notice him in the kitchen at the A-list parties he caters -- "The first thing people say is, 'Oh s**t, this is good! Did you really make this?'"

He adds, "I love cooking. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. All we do is eat ... eat and get diabetes."

Going out with a girl with dietary restrictions can be tough on a guy, but when that girl is Emmy Rossum ... guys get over it QUICK.

Our photog in NYC caught the "Shameless" star out and about yesterday and asked her about having celiac disease, which makes the body unable to tolerate foods that contain gluten.

But when our guy asked if it affected her dating life, Emmy made it clear ... it's not a problem AT ALL.

Super hot chick, huge sports fan ... yeah, hard to see guys caring about gluten.

Petey Pablo had a personal chef while he was locked up for his firearms conviction ... but picture less Wolfgang Puck, and more Miss Claudette.

Pablo tells TMZ ... he paid another inmate to cook his meals -- dishes like chicken, pizza, and rice and beans. Wolf ranges are not available in the big house, but microwaves were readily available.

The "chef" would buy ingredients from the prison commissary and whip up the meals. Pablo's favorite -- a spicy rice bowl with jalapenos and available meat. Pablo boasts, "It was some of the best food you could ever make in a microwave."

Well, we know where Creighton University basketball stud Doug McDermott WON’T be celebrating if he wins National Player of the Year – the school cafeteria.

The 6'8" 215-pound scoring machine was out in New York yesterday and told us that CU’s culinary game could use some serious, serious improvement ... 'cause it's "terrible."

The good news for Doug -- he probably won't have to eat it too much longer since he's a surefire 1st round pick in the NBA Draft.

The NYC Deli where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm is coming after an impostor in court ... claiming it's the only deli that can trade on phantom gratification.

Katz's Deli -- one of the most famous in New York -- claims Katz & Dogz -- a food truck that touts its Reuben Orgasm -- is jacking its act by creating an orgasmic theme.

Katz claims in its lawsuit ... it's become an icon of NYC as a result of "When Harry Met Sally." In fact, the lawsuit touts that customers line up to sit at the Sally table to fake their own ... which probably makes lunch really annoying.

They even make groaners in laying claim to the franchise. There's a placard on the table that says, "Where Harry met Sally ... Hope you have what she had!"

So Katz is indignant that a cheap, 4-wheeled imitation is trading on its name and rich history.

Katz wants the food truck permanently garaged. They also want all the money from those delicious -- though undoubtedly greasy -- Reuben Orgasms.

Hot sauce isn't the only thing that burns at Chipotle -- Frank Ocean just posted a photo of the fat check he sent to the Mexican Grill after the company sued him for $212,500 ... and on the memo, he wrote "F*** OFF."

Frank posted the image on his Tumblr account -- and a rep for Chipotle has already released a response, telling TMZ, "Thanks, Frank."

We broke the story -- Chipotle sued Ocean, claiming it paid him the $212,500 as an advance to record a song for one of its commercials. Chipotle claims Ocean bailed on the project because the Mexican Grill insisted on using its logo in its own ad ... even though Frank didn't want it ... the audacity.

The Chipotle rep tells us, they haven't received the check yet -- but they're grateful he ponied up.

Let us be the first to wish you a very happy National Meatball Day (we can't believe it's been a whole year either) -- and to keep the festivities rollin' we've compiled some pics of the hottest stars on a Buca di Beppo binge!

The guy who sued McDonalds for $1.5 mil for shorting him on napkins says he doesn't miss the golden arches one bit ... because now he eats at Jack in the Box.

Webster Lucas was leaving lunch in the Valley with a friend when our photog spotted his J.I.T.B. to-go bag. Ironically, we caught him holding the bag outside a Mickey D's.

Lucas groused that Ronald could learn a thing or 2 from Jack ... in the napkin dept.

As we previously reported ... Webster claims in his lawsuit he suffered severe emotional injury after being on the receiving end of racial slurs by a McDonalds manager ... who refused to give him more than one napkin.

If it doesn't get all over the place ... oh wait, wrong company.

Beans, beans, the magical fruit ... the more you eat, the more you ... boot a hangover -- at least that's what Bill Cosby says.

The 76-year-old TV legend was promoting a chili restaurant Thursday in Arlington, Virginia ... and our photog asked for his advice on how to cure a hangover.

Cosby had a quick, enthusiastic answer -- but his opinion is a little biased.

Frank Ocean wanted to have his burrito and eat it too -- metaphorically speaking -- because Chipotle Mexican Grill just sued the singer for backing out of an ad ... for what seems like the most ridiculous reason.

According to the suit, filed today in L.A. County ... Chipotle signed Frank to a $425,000 deal to sing a remake of "Pure Imagination" for a new animated ad.

But Chipotle claims Frank never recorded the track because when they showed him the final cut ... Frank was pissed the company's logo appeared at the end of the spot.

To reiterate ... he was mad Chipotle's logo was in a Chipotle advertisement.

The restaurant says it got an email from Frank's people claiming Frank thought he was promised final say over the recording and all promotional materials -- and believed the company was in breach when it refused to remove its logo.

Chipotle is suing to get back the $212,500 advance it paid Ocean.

By the way, Fiona Apple ended up doing the spot instead of Frank.

The one he went to on Friday actually sells coffee.