RE$TAURANT$ blog items appear each Tuesday. Doral Chenoweth writes about the business of restaurants and the food industry in the Columbus, Ohio, Metro area. Reader comments are welcome by telephone. 614-538-1822. Email the Grump: thegrumpygourmet@wowway.com Send food stuff here: iPLATE@grumpygourmetusa.com Send weird stuff here: alferd_e_packer@wowway.com E-mail messages must include name and telephone for a reply.

13DEC05

Chef John DiGiovanni

Disney Chef Seeks Job in Columbus, Calls City ‘Disney World for Foodies’ The Chamber of Commerce should hire John DiGiovanni. He’s a slogan maker who would be welcomed by any big city wanting to tout a diversity of restaurants. Columbus can own him. Chef DiGiovanni, with 15 years experience in Disney World kitchens from which to make such a judgment, says after visits to Columbus, “Columbus is a Disney World for foodies.” Of course, to compact his affection for Columbus, there has to be a love angle. In 1997 he met wife Jenn while attending the American Culinary Federation-sanctioned Disney Culinary Academy. Once married, they started making visits to Columbus and, as he explains, “it was love at first sight for me.” DiGiovanni says Columbus has “a diverse offering of restaurants to satisfy any craving.” He praises North Market as a “pure” foodie haven. While he will miss Walt Disney World, he reasons that he has worked all the culinary stations and thinks he has something to offer Columbus operators. Oh, one major reason for targeting Columbus for the rest of his career, he and wife became parents of twin boys in September. He wants them to experience a change of seasons, French waffles at the Ohio State Fair, and to become proper Buckeye fans. DiGiovanni’s resume is unique for the restaurant business, notorious for floaters, job switchers and people lacking any loyalty to employers: He’s had one, the same employer all of his adult life. He started as an apprentice in one of the nation’s most demanding culinary programs – Disney’s. To potential employers in Columbus, his telephone contact is 407-421-2554. His e-mail: moltochef@yahoo.com. For readers of this website, an e-mailed copy of his resume may be had by calling 614-538-1822.

Market Mystery: Sunset Negril The Caribbean-themed eatery-night club and so-called experience in things Jamaican in the resurrected Continent, Sunset Negril, has had repeated announced openings scheduled in this current year. As of Sunday, the business was at a standstill. Reasons are many. Liquor permits initially applied for in April, 2005, were stationary, meaning not issued. Original applicants, Garrett Greenlee and John Michael Fontana, at the time were completing construction and awaiting inspections on the $1.2 million investment. Last week liquor department records show in a subsequent application filing that Fontana is the sole owner and now awaits granting of two liquor permits, a D5-J and a D6, the latter for Sunday sales. Fontana could not be reached by the current Sunset number, 614-876-9110. Greenlee, reached while in Cleveland, was vague as to his current involvement, but said he expects the place to open once the permits are issued. Public records show that no official objections, such as police or city council, exist. As to investors involved over the two planning years, Greenlee said he had 45 with total shares amounting to only 10 percent of what it cost the limited liability company to open the place. Much of the mystery status comes from Continent management. General Manager Carry Chapman is unavailable and the only one "allowed to speak" on matters relating to Sunset Negril. She represents the property owner, New York-based Apollo Realty. Restaurant insiders say the troubled place will open. The reasoning: Lots of money involved in the operation.

Novak to Zola Wil Novak, one of the established culinarians in Columbus with a resume noting many grand openings for the early Cameron Mitchell restaurants, has moved into the Zola kitchen. He replaces James Boyle who recently departed the property. However, Novak’s tenure depends upon his ability to make a deal with Zola owners. Nothing’s final says Novak’s wife and partner, Julie Novak.

Northstar offspring? Northstar Café, that organic success story at 951 N. High St., may be duplicated for the Clintonville community. Owners Katy and Kevin Malhame are negotiating for a 4,000 square foot storefront on the northwest corner of High and Deland streets, Clintonville. A name for the new venture has yet to be decided. What has been firmed is the service style and culinary aspect. Northstar is a café featuring organic foods from the Ohio countryside. Kevin Malhame is an active member of IFO – Innovative Farmers of Ohio. IFO is dedicated to expanding markets for sustainable and organic foods. Like Northstar, the new venture will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner hours – daily. If patrons like the Northstar interior, appointments and design, credit architect Andrew Rosenthal. If the Clintonville deal comes about, Rosenthal will get the contract to do the arts part.

Restaurant stiffed on Peak Night Restaurant operators around town already have recorded a record year for being victimized by scammers. One woman brought back the old dry cleaning bit, handing managers a bogus dry cleaning bill for some high amount for cleaning silk or suede and demanded immediate payment. And then came the guy who hit dozens of restaurants claiming he was served bad food and wanted a refund. Two Saturdays ago a prominent Short North operator accepted a 7 p.m. reservation for 40. It was a heavy traffic night, gallery goers in bunches. Minutes after the appointed time, the operator knew he had been had. Stiffed is the word. As to a course of action, stay tuned. by Doral Chenoweth 614-538-1822 home

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columbuschefs.com/restaurants-blog-29nov05.html - Tis the Season
columbuschefs.com/restaurants-blog-06dec05.html - Da Vinci's safe