Stars (restaurant)
Encyclopedia
Stars was a landmark restaurant in San Francisco, California
from 1984 through 1999. Along with Spago, Michael's and Chez Panisse
it is considered one of the birthplaces of California Cuisine
, New American cuisine
, and the institution of the celebrity chef
.
, former chef of Chez Panisse
, opened Stars in 1984, together with investors from Berkeley
's Fourth Street Grill and Santa Fe Bar and Grill. With an opulent interior, a busy open kitchen, and an unabashed preference for socialites and celebrities, Stars and its pioneering approach to food and dining became an instant sensation.
The restaurant was among the top-grossing restaurants in the United States for years. Tower opened branches of Stars restaurant in Oakville (Napa Valley), Palo Alto, Manila
, and Singapore
. He opened The Peak Cafe in Hong Kong
in the 1990s, as well as various related ventures in San Francisco including a more casual cafe
and an upscale bistro
Stars Cafe, next door, another Stars on Van Ness Avenue, and a kitchenware shop . The side ventures all failed, and by the late 1990s the flagship restaurant was losing money rapidly, unable to attract enough diners to support its high operations cost. Stars closed for business in late 1999, after which a "bittersweet" Tower declared that he was done with California..
After Tower's departure the restaurant was reopened briefly in by new investors under the same name but with a less expensive, Mediterranean concept. In 2004 it became the new location of San Francisco's Trader Vic
's, which had been closed since 1994. The Palo Alto location of Stars became a branch of Wolfgang Puck
's Spago Restaurant in 1997. Steve Ells
, founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill
, served for two years as a sous-chef under Jeremiah Tower
at Stars.
's most renowned chefs, some of whom have gone on to international fame. Among the Stars alumni are:
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
from 1984 through 1999. Along with Spago, Michael's and Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse is a Berkeley, California restaurant known for using local, organic foods and credited as the inspiration for the style of cooking known as California cuisine. Well-known restauranteur, author, and food activist Alice Waters co-founded Chez Panisse in 1971 with film producer Paul...
it is considered one of the birthplaces of California Cuisine
California Cuisine
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients.The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation...
, New American cuisine
New American cuisine
New American cuisine is a term for upscale, contemporary cooking served primarily in restaurants in the United States. Combining flavors from America's melting pot with traditional techniques, New American cuisine includes ethnic twists on old standbys, Old World peasant dishes made from luxury...
, and the institution of the celebrity chef
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
.
History
Chef Jeremiah TowerJeremiah Tower
Jeremiah Tower is an American celebrity chef who, along with Wolfgang Puck, Alice Waters, and Jonathan Waxman, is generally credited with developing the culinary style known as California cuisine.-Biography:...
, former chef of Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse is a Berkeley, California restaurant known for using local, organic foods and credited as the inspiration for the style of cooking known as California cuisine. Well-known restauranteur, author, and food activist Alice Waters co-founded Chez Panisse in 1971 with film producer Paul...
, opened Stars in 1984, together with investors from Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
's Fourth Street Grill and Santa Fe Bar and Grill. With an opulent interior, a busy open kitchen, and an unabashed preference for socialites and celebrities, Stars and its pioneering approach to food and dining became an instant sensation.
The restaurant was among the top-grossing restaurants in the United States for years. Tower opened branches of Stars restaurant in Oakville (Napa Valley), Palo Alto, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He opened The Peak Cafe in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in the 1990s, as well as various related ventures in San Francisco including a more casual cafe
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
and an upscale bistro
Bistro
A bistro, sometimes spelled bistrot, is, in its original Parisian incarnation, a small restaurant serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting. Bistros are defined mostly by the foods they serve. Home cooking with robust earthy dishes, and slow-cooked foods like cassoulet are typical...
Stars Cafe, next door, another Stars on Van Ness Avenue, and a kitchenware shop . The side ventures all failed, and by the late 1990s the flagship restaurant was losing money rapidly, unable to attract enough diners to support its high operations cost. Stars closed for business in late 1999, after which a "bittersweet" Tower declared that he was done with California..
After Tower's departure the restaurant was reopened briefly in by new investors under the same name but with a less expensive, Mediterranean concept. In 2004 it became the new location of San Francisco's Trader Vic
Trader Vic
Trader Vic's is a restaurant chain headquartered in San Francisco, California. Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. was the founder of a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore his nickname, "Trader Vic," and was one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai...
's, which had been closed since 1994. The Palo Alto location of Stars became a branch of Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Johannes Puck is an Austrian-American celebrity chef, restaurateur, businessman and occasional actor. Wolfgang Puck restaurants, catering services, cookbooks and licensed products are run by Wolfgang Puck Companies, with three divisions...
's Spago Restaurant in 1997. Steve Ells
Steve Ells
Steve Ells is the founder, Co-CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Ells founded Chipotle in 1993, and under his direction, committed the restaurant to serve only naturally raised meat and to promote sustainable agriculture....
, founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
, served for two years as a sous-chef under Jeremiah Tower
Jeremiah Tower
Jeremiah Tower is an American celebrity chef who, along with Wolfgang Puck, Alice Waters, and Jonathan Waxman, is generally credited with developing the culinary style known as California cuisine.-Biography:...
at Stars.
Chefs who worked at Stars
Stars launched the careers of some of the Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
's most renowned chefs, some of whom have gone on to international fame. Among the Stars alumni are:
- Joey AltmanJoey AltmanJoey Altman is an American chef, restaurateur, TV host and writer.-Personal History:Altman grew up in the Catskills in New York, where his mother worked at Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel...
(Bay Cafe television program, Wild Hare restaurant) - Mario BataliMario BataliMario Batali is an American chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality. In addition to his classical culinary training, he is an expert on the history and culture of Italian cuisine, including regional and local variations. Batali co-owns restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,...
(Entertainment personality, Food Network) - Steve EllsSteve EllsSteve Ells is the founder, Co-CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Ells founded Chipotle in 1993, and under his direction, committed the restaurant to serve only naturally raised meat and to promote sustainable agriculture....
(founder and CEO of Chipotle Mexican GrillChipotle Mexican GrillChipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
) - Mark Franz (Farallon)
- Tim Grable (pastry chef, One Market and Fifth Floor)
- Loretta Keller (Chef-owner, Bizou/Coco500 and The Moss Room),
- Emily LuchettiEmily LuchettiEmily Luchetti is an award winning pastry chef with Farallon restaurant and a featured television chef on the TV series Great Chefs with appearances in Great Chefs - The Women and Great Chefs - Great Cities. She has also worked at Stars_ and with Jeremiah_Tower.- References :...
(pastry chef, Farallon) - Ron Garrido (Chef-owner, Avalon in Eureka, CA)
- Jerry TraunfeldJerry TraunfeldJerry Traunfeld is an American chef and author, was the executive chef of The Herbfarm restaurant in Woodinville, Washington. He was the chef at The Herbfarm from July 1990 to November 2007...
- Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier (Chefs/Owners of Arrows Restaurant - Ogunquit, ME)
- Richard Katz
- David Spitsen (Appetizer chef, Seattle Stars)
- Abdul Boury (Executive Chef, Café Harlequin http://www.cafeharlequin.com, Kirkland, WA)
- Michael Schrader (Executive Chef, Epic http://www.epicrestaurantchicago.com Chicago, IL)