newsmakers

newsmakers

Celebrity chef goes to airport for new venture

CLEVELAND

Cleveland-born celebrity chef Michael Symon is taking his food to the airport — and Pittsburgh.

The Food Network “Next Iron Chef” winner and co-host of ABC’s “The Chew” this spring plans to open Bar Symon, a restaurant and bar, at Pittsburgh International Airport, and Symon and his partners hope to take the concept to a series of other airports, The Plain Dealer reported.

The TV chef and cookbook author is entering into the venture with the family that owned BanJoe’s Caf , a restaurant that shut down at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and was a favorite of Symon’s. It was “the only place there to get good food and coffee,” he wrote on Facebook a little over a year ago when BanJoe’s was closing.

The Rababy family’s Cleveland-based United Concessions Group Inc. will operate the Pittsburgh airport eatery, with The Paradies Shops of Atlanta. According to the lease agreement, Bar Symon will begin serving travelers in May. The menu will spotlight the chef’s signature takeoffs on comfort food, including his Lola Burger that has a fried egg and pickled red onions on top.

Symon’s existing restaurants mostly are in more traditional settings and mostly in Cleveland and the surrounding area, though he does have one of his B Spot burger joints at Quicken Loans Arena, where it’s open only during Cleveland Cavaliers home games.

Comic Kathy Griffin gets Bravo talk show

PASADENA, Calif.

Comic Kathy Griffin is never shy about offering her opinions. Soon she’ll have a weekly outlet for them.

The Bravo network said Saturday that it will premiere “Kathy,” a once-a-week talk show hosted by Griffin sometime this spring. The network hasn’t decided when it will air regularly.

Bravo promised that “this will be the destination to get Griffin’s thoughts on everything pop culture as she rants on the week’s biggest headlines and tabloid gossip.” The show also will feature stand-up comedy, celebrity interviews and taped segments.

In addition, Griffin will perform two stand-up comedy specials on Bravo this year.

Associated Press