There was a time when chefs barely left the kitchen, recognizable only by their food and sweat stained chef’s coat. Nowadays, “celebrity chef” is a title bestowed onto a host of recognizable culinary characters, whose well-coiffed, spray-tanned, and bigger-than-life personas grace the small screen, big screen and everything else in between (with legions of screaming fans and foodies padding their every step) – including hotel restaurants.
Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite celebrity chefs with hotel restaurants.
The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia - 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert, Eric Ripert
There are celebrity chefs who throw their name on just about anything with a surface: a laundry list of mediocre restaurants, pasta sauces, mugs – you name it. But acclaimed chef, Eric Ripert – widely acclaimed as one of the best chefs in the world – isn’t one of them. In fact, his list of restaurants is so carefully curated, that there are only four on it.
(Photo credit: Nigel Parry, Courtesy of 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert)
One of those lucky four restaurants is 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert, housed in the luxurious The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia – a suitably fine location for this fine-dining restaurant. Serving up dishes like Snake River Kobe skirt steak with a red wine sauce, to morel mushroom ravioli, to soft pretzels with cheddar sauce and jalapeno jam, the restaurant is simultaneously approachable and elegant – not unlike the master chef himself.
(Photo courtesy of 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert)
Check out the luxurious rooms at the The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia.
MGM Grand – craftsteak, Tom Colicchio
At the MGM Grand, there’s no shortage of incredible restaurants. There’s famed restaurateur and chef, Joel Robuchon’s two eponymous restaurants, as well as those from Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck and Bay-area favorite, Michael Mina. Chef Tom Colicchio – of Bravo TV’s Top Chef fame – adds his name to the mix, with craftsteak.
What makes craftsteak special is the restaurant’s emphasis on cultivating relationships with small family farms to source many of its ingredients. Steak, of course, is front and center on its menu, but so is free-range chicken and organic salmon, along with sides like mushroom risotto, chanterelle mushrooms and Maui onions.
Affinia Chicago – C-House Restaurant, Marcus Samuelsson
At Top Chef Master, Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, C-House Restaurant, you’ll find food that’s seasonal, creative and inspired by the freshness of locally-sourced ingredients – dishes like green garlic soup with crispy frog legs, mac & cheese with goat cheddar, and salmon burger with fennel slaw (are you salivating yet?). The restaurant blends in seamlessly with the hotel in which it’s housed – comfortable elegance, color and flair combine for a tasty meal and a comfortable stay.
(Photo courtesy of Affinia Chicago)
Get the scoop on rooms at Affinia Chicago.
The London West Hollywood – Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood, Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay is notorious for his hot temper, which sometimes overshadows his sheer talent. American audiences may recognize him from the reality show, “Hell’s Kitchen,” a culinary dog-eat-dog competition for aspiring chefs. Though Chef Ramsay oversees all dining at The London West Hollywood, his eponymous restaurant – Gordon Ramsay at The London - is the crown jewel in his culinary jewelry box. Dishes from the sophisticated menu include such wonders as roasted chestnut soup with foie gras, caramelized sea scallops and steak tartare – dishes so good, you might just throw your own temper tantrum when it’s time to leave.
See the spacious rooms at The London West Hollywood.
