Lawsuits

Cafe Firenze Fires Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani; Fabio Sues Father-in-Law

TMZ reports that Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani is suing Michael Takeda, his father-in-law who hired, and fired, him at Moorpark’s Café Firenze. According to the story, Viviani claims he and partner Jacopo Falleni were promised an ownership stake in the restaurant and a $4,000 monthly salary while working over 130 hours a week to get the restaurant open. Viviani also credits himself and his recent fame for the restaurant’s four-million dollar-a-year take, and claims he and Jacopo were not paid as promised. The two are currently suing for unspecified damages while supporters on both sides have taken to the comments, insisting Viviani is frequently fired from jobs or suggesting that without him, Café Firenze could be finished. Last week, Falleni and Viviani released a Cafe Firenze cookbook together, while calls to the restaurant have so far been unanswered, and nothing on the restaurant’s website suggests its not still driven by Viviani.

Top Chef Fabio: My Old Boss is a Jerk, Chicken [TMZ]

Cafe Firenze Fires Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani; Fabio Sues Father-in-Law