Like frozen yogurt joints with the word “berry” in the name, Shia LaBeouf and illegal U-turns, reality star-owned restaurants seem to be all over Los Angeles these days. From Iron Chefs to Top Chefs to "Big Brother" winners, reality celebs are proving they can put their money where your mouth is. Even Gordon Ramsay of "Hell's Kitchen" is throwing his oven mitt into the ring, with his first West Coast venture opening at The London (currently The Bel Age Hotel) early next year, but since we’re hungry now, here’s a look at what reality TV’s got cooking—for real.
"Top Chef"
Angelenos are no longer stuck simply drooling on their remotes as they gaze at the delicious results of those "Top Chef" challenges; now they can drool on the chefs themselves as three alumni from the Bravo series have set up shop in the L.A. area.
Head judge Tom Colicchio opened the L.A. outpost of his New York restaurant Craft in Century City earlier this month, getting cozy behind CAA’s new digs and devising a dinner menu (with lounge and lunch to follow soon) with an ambitious focus on seafood and steak dishes that demonstrate dedication to his, um, craft.
Season two contestant Betty Fraser, as one half of The Grub Girls, co-owns the catering service As You Like It and eatery Grub. A menu highlight is the After School Special sandwich with which Fraser won a coveted elimination challenge. But, alas, even its magical combination of swiss and cheddar was not enough to save her from ultimate ejection.
Season one’s fifth runner up Stephen Asprinio is also proving that winning isn’t everything: look for him later this year. There are reports of multiple projects in the works: Tastevin, a "concept wine boutique" geared toward twenty-somethings in downtown and EnoBar, a café/wine bar/paninoteca in Costa Mesa. We'll stay tuned to see which one makes it past the final round. If watching "Top Chef" marathons has taught us anything, he’ll be the one in a necktie.
"The Next Food Network Star"
Season two of the nicest reality show on the airwaves (it’s more like watching people become friends at summer camp than compete for their own TV show) resulted in a solid runner-up finish for L.A’s own Reggie Southerland, a self-taught homestyle cook who was then-baker and manager at Silverlake’s Comfort Café. It seems Reggie left the café last year to pursue his own business, a baked goods and catering company called Mildred Fierce. L.A. residents in need of a good peach cobbler to serve twenty, just relax: Reggie has it covered.
"Hell’s Kitchen"
When it was revealed last month that Season One champ Michael Wray is no longer executive chef at the downtown location of Asian restaurant Wokcano, representatives for Tatou Supper Club, which has some business ties to Wokcano, respectfully explained that Wray is still involved with the business and publicly lauded his abilities as a chef. No four-letter words. No name-calling. No bringing grown men to tears. Has anyone at Tatou ever seen "Hell’s Kitchen"?
"Big Brother"
Mike “Boogie” Malin went home early in "Big Brother 2," and consoled himself by starting The Dolce Group, the force behind L.A. hotspots Dolce, Geisha House, Ketchup, and Les Deux. Catering to Hollywood’s young and rich may have brought him luck: Malin went on to win "Big Brother: All-Stars" last year.
"Iron Chef America"
He’s taken on everything from catfish to chickpeas on Iron Chef America. Now, Mario Batali fires back with a challenge to Los Angeles: get a reservation at finally-opened Osteria Mozza. The secret ingredient: a busy signal. You have as long as it takes (and you will need it). Allez! Cuisine!
