In defense of the new Aubergine
IN S. Irene Virbila’s review of Aubergine, [“Who’s Minding This Kitchen?” May 31], Virbila wrote that she had heard that the restaurant had “stealthily reopened at the beginning of the year.”
The impression she had is false. The facts are that we advertised in the Daily Pilot [the Costa Mesa paper published by Times Community Newspapers, a division of the Los Angeles Times], sent hundreds of invitations and e-mails, made telephone calls to former customers of Aubergine and contacted Orange County concierges.
We reached out to thousands, announcing that Aubergine’s new owners had a different vision for the restaurant including a new chef, menu and decor.
The most egregious accusation in the review is the one in which Virbila states that I had “the chutzpah to claim the praise lavished on the original and quite unique Aubergine.” It was based on misinformation that she evidently obtained from the previous owner’s website.
Regarding the TV monitors, the original Aubergine had the cameras watching its patrons and the monitor was in the kitchen. I believe this was wrong and that the reverse should be the standard.
Having been associated for 35 years with some of the most talented personalities in the food and wine industry, I know Aubergine’s direction for the future does not rely on its past nor does it need to surf on the reputation of its previous owners. Change is good and needed.
As Liza Goodell [one of the original co-owners] told The Times in “Goodells’ Adieu to Aubergine” on July 20, 2005, “Selling the name didn’t matter to us. There are Aubergines in London, Munich and everywhere else. And in Orange County, no one ever knew what it meant anyway.”
I accept criticism and the right to criticize. I stand firmly and proudly behind chef David Man and his dedicated, hardworking young staff.
We have a tremendous challenge to prove the reviewer wrong on her opinions about the dishes she reviewed. I acknowledge that she was right about some things, and they have been addressed.
We look forward to removing the ugly “unsatisfactory” rating and replacing it with a new one in the near future.
DENNIS OVERSTREET
Newport Beach
Overstreet is the owner of Aubergine.