George Lang (restaurateur)
Encyclopedia
George Lang was a Hungarian born American restaurateur
.
Lang was the only child of Simon Deutsch, a tailor, and Ilona Lang. He grew up in this "modestly prosperous" Jewish family in Székesfehérvár
, Hungary where he practiced violin. After Döme Sztójay
took over as prime minister in March 1944, György was ordered into a labor camp; both his parents later died in Auschwitz, but György escaped within six months. In order to survive, he hid his identity and joined the pro-Nazi Arrow Cross
, in which he served for three months before he was discovered. Russian forces liberated Budapest before he could be executed, however. He was tried for war crimes as an Arrow Cross member; even though he was acquitted, "Europe was finished for him." He changed his name (Deutsch means 'German'), taking his mother's maiden name, and moved to the United States in 1946 with his cousin Évi.
He pioneered the profession of restaurant consulting when in 1970 he started the George Lang Corporation. In 1975 he bought the Café des Artistes
, a restaurant popular with musicians, journalists, and others; it closed in 2009 after steady losses and union troubles. In 1992, along with Ronald S. Lauder, he bought and restored the famous Budapest restaurant Gundel
.
His autobiography, entitled Nobody Knows the Truffles I've Seen (a reference to the spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
") was published by Knopf in 1998.
Lang, who was married to Jenifer Harvey Lang at the time of his death, had been treated for Alzheimer's disease and died at age 86 at his home in Manhattan.
Restaurateur
A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of the restaurant business.-Etymology:The word...
.
Lang was the only child of Simon Deutsch, a tailor, and Ilona Lang. He grew up in this "modestly prosperous" Jewish family in Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
, Hungary where he practiced violin. After Döme Sztójay
Döme Sztójay
Döme Sztójay born Demeter Sztojakovich was a Hungarian soldier and diplomat of Serb origin, who served as Prime Minister of Hungary during World War II.- Biography :...
took over as prime minister in March 1944, György was ordered into a labor camp; both his parents later died in Auschwitz, but György escaped within six months. In order to survive, he hid his identity and joined the pro-Nazi Arrow Cross
Arrow Cross Party
The Arrow Cross Party was a national socialist party led by Ferenc Szálasi, which led in Hungary a government known as the Government of National Unity from October 15, 1944 to 28 March 1945...
, in which he served for three months before he was discovered. Russian forces liberated Budapest before he could be executed, however. He was tried for war crimes as an Arrow Cross member; even though he was acquitted, "Europe was finished for him." He changed his name (Deutsch means 'German'), taking his mother's maiden name, and moved to the United States in 1946 with his cousin Évi.
He pioneered the profession of restaurant consulting when in 1970 he started the George Lang Corporation. In 1975 he bought the Café des Artistes
Café des Artistes
Café des Artistes was a fine restaurant at One West 67th Street in Manhattan and was owned by George Lang. He closed the restaurant for vacation at the beginning of August 2009 and decided to keep it closed permanently while away, announcing the close on August 28, 2009...
, a restaurant popular with musicians, journalists, and others; it closed in 2009 after steady losses and union troubles. In 1992, along with Ronald S. Lauder, he bought and restored the famous Budapest restaurant Gundel
Gundel
Gundel is a well-known restaurant located in the Budapest City Park, Hungary.- History :A previous restaurant in the spot, Wampetics, opened in 1894. In 1910, Károly Gundel took over the Wampetics lease and operated the restaurant. His son Janos Gundel, who had learned the hospitality trade at...
.
His autobiography, entitled Nobody Knows the Truffles I've Seen (a reference to the spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen is a spiritual. The song is well known and many cover versions of it have been produced, although the rendition by Louis Armstrong is the best known. Marian Anderson had her first successful recording with a version of this song on the Victor label in 1925. Lena...
") was published by Knopf in 1998.
Lang, who was married to Jenifer Harvey Lang at the time of his death, had been treated for Alzheimer's disease and died at age 86 at his home in Manhattan.
Sources
- Matt DeLucia, "George Lang - His Amazing Journey to Café Des Artistes," Restaurant Insider, March 2007.