Top Chef's Richard Blais leaves his restaurant...

[Phentex]

He worked at a place called Home. The owner said he didn't want to pay Blais for the time he wasn't working in the restaurant and Blais admits he's been traveling and making appearances due to Top Chef. I'm not sure why he thinks he should be paid even when he isn't there, but I also know the restaurant has earned some new business simply because of his Top Chef connection.

He's planning to open a new gourmet burger place in November. I expected it to be hard for him to remain at the old place.

[sandnsea]

1. Doesn't the Chef create the menu?

Hire the staff, know the local seasonal foods and vendors, guarantee the quality of the restaurant. The Top Chef PR being a bonus that is next to impossible to come by. Sounds to me like the owner was an idiot, unless the quality of the restaurant was sliding due to the absence.

[mtnester]

2. Sounds like an ego issue to me

at the very least it is part of it anyway.

I agree, only an idiot would give up that {R..how long will it take for everyone to say "yeah, that Top Chef guy ain't at that restaurant anymore, he has his own place across town, let's go there!"