Thirty-three-year-old chef Marc Forgione has partnered with the EMM restaurant group and has been appointed executive chef at a forthcoming redo of the Abe & Arthur’s space, today’s “Off the Menu” column in the Times reports. Last month it was reported that the chef, also an Iron Chef, was readying a Southeast Asian project in the old Duane Park space in Tribeca. Abe & Arthur’s as we know it will close in early 2013 and reopen as an entirely new place.
Ex-Brasserie chef Franklin Becker left Abe & Arthur’s in June, citing irreconcilable differences. He is now working on a book and a quick-service restaurant concept.
Abe & Arthur’s restaurant, which opened in 2009, reportedly rang up $10 million of business during its first seven months of operations by catering to high-profile guests who crave bottle service and tuna tartare. Today, Forgione tells the Times he plans to shift gears a little and serve a menu that pays homage to New York food. “I want to bring the dirty-water dog into fine dining,” he says. Expect the new, as-yet-unnamed restaurant to open next year.*
Off The Menu [NYT]
Earlier: Marc Forgione Eyes Duane Park Space for Southeast Asian Restaurant
*This post has been corrected to reflect that Marc Forgione’s new project at the Abe & Arthur’s space will not only have a new concept, but also a new name.
