Poor Rocco 2

[chefATL]

Has anyone heard the latest on Rocco being sued by his business partners for the poor performance of Rocco's on 22nd?

Apparently the restaurant is losing money hand over fist. Union pacific also lost a star in the New York Times during it's last review.

Poor Rocco

[ChefJune]

yes, Dave, he IS being sued to be removed from the place. Once again, what goes around comes around. "Poor Rocco?" He brought it on himself, imo.

[feliznap]

Maybe that is why "poor Rocco" is even going on the Soap Opera Track! LOL!

new ROCCO DISPIRITO OF NBC’S ‘THE RESTAURANT’ COOKS THINGS UP ON NETWORK’S 'DAYS OF OUR LIVES' ON APRIL 26
Thanks to Thexfactor264 for the heads up on this! This PR is from www.nbcmv.com
BURBANK, Calif. -– April 7, 2004 –- Rocco DiSpirito, celebrity chef and star of NBC's returning unscripted drama "The Restaurant" (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET, beginning April 19), will make a special appearance on NBC's hit daytime drama, "Days of Our Lives" on Wednesday, April 28 (broadcast times vary, check local listings). DiSpirito, who plays himself, arrives in Salem to help the hopeless romantic Rex (Eric Winter) surprise his girlfriend Mimi Lockhart (Farah Fath) with a candlelit dinner.

DiSpirito was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens and discovered his love for cuisine at a young age. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1986 he studied abroad at Jardin de Cygne in France. In 1990, DiSpirito earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Boston University.

Seven years later DiSpirito opened his first restaurant, the Union Pacific, in New York City's Gramercy Park. He was awarded three stars in the New York Times in 1998 review, and three more in 2002 from the New York Observer. In 1999, he was named Food & Wine's Best New Chef, and in 2000, Gourmet magazine called him "America's Most Exciting Young Chef."

In the summer of 2003 DiSpirito opened Rocco's 22nd Street while cameras for NBC's "The Restaurant" documented the process. "The Restaurant" will return for a second season with six new episodes beginning April 19.

"Days of Our Lives" is produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Columbia Pictures Television.

(from Dustin's Days Page)

[ChefJune]

In 1999, he was named Food & Wine's Best New Chef,

REALLY??? the F&W mags I read always have TEN best new chefs each year, and never a top one.... I guess he figured if there HAD been a top one, it would've been him....

Sorry... I find him only slightly less nauseating than Bobby Flay.

[roger ramjet]

Days of our Lives??
oi vey...

[Gilbear]

That's what I like about you, June. We hate the same people. I would be happy to stand on their face while the St. Pat's Parade went by. On the other hand, as long as they get to operate joints, I still hold out hope for myself.
Paul, Was "The Restaurant" anything BUT a soap opera? Lots of drama and pretty faces, mugging for the camera with no intrinsic value, or redeemng social quality. Perfect for the boy!

[Lorraine]

JUne , I watched his program last week, (new to Food TV Canada). Bobby Flay is looking real good.to me

[ChefJune]

Bobby Flay is looking real good.to me

Looks can be deceiving, Lorraine. and as my Granny used to say, "Beauty is as beauty does..." Bobby is well known in New York culinary circles as not only a conceited SOB, but also a misogynist. I don't care how good he looks, or how good his restaurants are, I won't patronize anyone who blatantly mistreats women. There are far too many restaurants in which to dine, and if there weren't I would dine at home. A horse's a$$ would be better company than Bobby Flay, imo. (and not, I'll tell you wnat I really think! )

[Lorraine]

June, I only meant that he was so bad he made Flay look good. Can't stand Flay either. And his female sidekick. Exile them both to Barrie.

[roger ramjet]

Oi Vey - I had the unpleasant experience of meeting Bobby Flay's assistant Jaquie (or however she spells her name). She was many things that I don't want to get into here, but "narcissistic" and "self-absorbed" were key terms. Her and her team swarmed the TV show I was working on, one man whose job was to make baby food for her newborn, while her other chefs just rattled off to me everything they though was wrong with our kitchen, etc. She was annoying, overbearing, demanding and wouldn't let anyone get a word in edgewise, on and off the camera.