Two successful restaurant stories have teamed again on a new venture that will open this April in Novato. Restaurant Realty participated in the deal where George Morrone and Aabi Shapoorian will open a Steakhouse with beef from Argentina and a menu to match. They have been wowing crowds most recently in San Francisco with their inventive restaurant called Tartare-known for its unusual list of tartars-raw items such as ahi tuna, beef, ostrich and even watermelon.
George Morrone is the chef partner whose resume reflects him as an outstanding culinary talent. He is the only Bay Area chef ever awarded four stars twice. George has been voted Chef of the Year in 1992 and 2002 and has been featured frequently on the PBS series Great Chefs. Morrone started out early in the business-working at a bakery in high school, attending the CIA-Culinary Institute of America and working in acclaimed restaurants throughout the country. He has traveled the world and has brought his touch to a number of San Francisco venues including Campton Place, Aqua as a partner with Michael Mina, and Fifth Floor where he met Shapoorian.
Aabi Shapoorian, an Economics and Math major at UCLA, worked in restaurants throughout college. He realized after taking a job at IBM, he was more suited for the challenges of the hospitality industry. He worked his way into management with Reflection Management, owner of the Crocodile Café chain, and then on to Director of Operations for Kimpton Hotel and Restaurants. He helped open Ponzu and Fifth Floor in San Francisco and turn around the Grand Café in the Hotel Monaco. He met Morrone and the rest is history.
Good luck on your new site at 340 Ignacio Boulevard in Novato.
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