Maple Drive/72 Market St. Partners Split
Maple Drive in Beverly Hills was opened last year by three of the principals at 72 Market Street in Venice--Dudley Moore, Tony Bill and Julie Stone--together with 72 Market executive chef Leonard Schwartz and a group of investors headed by MGM/UA president/CEO Jeffrey Barbakow. Though Stone and Schwartz remained associated with 72, both devoted most of their time to Maple Drive in its early months of business, and the two restaurants were widely viewed as siblings.
There has now been a rift in the familial relationship. Though declining to disclose the reasons for the split, Stone says, “Basically, Leonard is no longer at 72, and I’m no longer at Maple Drive.” Jere Anderson, who has been sous-chef at 72 since the place opened and who Stone says has actually been in full charge of the kitchen for several years, has been named executive chef of the Venice establishment. Robert Schwan, who has been in charge of the 72 dining room since the Maple Drive project first got underway, will be that establishment’s new general manager.
While similarly declining to discuss the split, Leonard Schwartz confirms that he has severed his working relationship with 72 Market Street, though he still maintains a business interest in it, he says. (Stone has relinquished her interest in Maple Drive.) “And the guys in the kitchen at 72,” Schwartz adds, “have told me that I’ll always be their honorary chef.” Schwartz, whose Maple Drive title is now executive chef and managing partner, also says, “The so-called ‘signature dishes’ that I created and have served over the years at 72 have also been on the menu here at Maple Drive since we opened, and whether or not 72 chooses to keep them, we will keep doing them here.” These dishes, he notes, include his famous Cajun-style meat loaf and “kick-ass” chili, as well as grilled chicken with garlic, olive oil and tomatillo salsa and charred tuna with Japanese-style vinaigrette.
Other changes are afoot at Maple Drive, says a source close to the restaurant, who requests anonymity: “We’re very happy with the food, but we want to put a little topspin on the place itself, making it a little more intimate. We’ll maybe dim the lights and add some tablecloths, to begin with, to try to soften it a bit. We’re also rethinking the oyster bar, which hasn’t been successful. And we’re working on the wine list.
Meanwhile, back at 72 Market Street, Julie Stone has just announced that she, Tony Bill and Dudley Moore plan to open a 72-style restaurant in Aspen on the site of the recently closed Gordon’s. Stone will move to Aspen to run the place, which is expected to open by December. A name for the restaurant has not yet been announced.
YAMAGUCHI’S LATEST: Former L.A.-based chef Roy Yamaguchi (ex-Le Gourmet and 385 North), now proprietor of the successful Roy’s Restaurant in Honolulu, has announced plans to open two more restaurants in Hawaii. One is a 90-seat place in an as yet undisclosed location in Waikiki, scheduled to debut in the spring. The other is due to open in about a year in the new Kahana Gateway complex on Maui, being built by the McDonald’s of Hawaii Development Company. It will seat 140, and is being designed by the Culver City architectural firm of Grinstein/Daniels, also responsible for the original Roy’s and for L.A.’s various Chaya restaurants, among other establishments.
ON THE FRONT BURNER: Monday evening, Cafe Pierre in Manhattan Beach serves Italian wines from Teruzzi & Puthod, Rampolla, Castello di Gabbiano, and other top producers with a five-course menu featuring recipes from Tuscany. The tariff is $55 a head. . . . Tulipe in West Hollywood, which has just reopened for lunch Monday through Friday, offers wines and special dishes from Provence, Oct. 22-28, in addition to the regular menu. . . . Patina in Hollywood presents a special fixed-price wild game menu at $65 per person Oct. 22 and 23. Salmon and pheasant ragout and young Scottish grouse with celery root are among the offerings. . . . And John Dominis in Newport Beach celebrates its second annual Fresh Pacific Lobster Festival from Oct. 26 through Nov. 8, featuring a number of special dishes based around that particular crustacean. The festival kicks off with a fund-raising dinner Oct. 25 to benefit the John Tracy Clinic. Tickets are $100 per person, and further information may be obtained by dialing (714) 731-8460.
