October 27, 2008 |
Short Order
Michael Huynh, the wandering chef, has settled at BarBao for now. Photo: Steven Richter
Is the new BarBao infringing on a registered trademark? The partners who backed chef Michael Huynh at Bao 111 on Avenue C and later at Bao Noodles on Second Avenue before he skedaddled uptown to Drew Nieporent’s Mai House, have asked their lawyer that question. The Saigon-raised chef ran a Pan-Asian canteen across the street but did even better designing and building restaurants when Chris Johnson and two friends offered their backing urging him to focus on the food of his homeland. Bao 111 became a late night nest for chefs after work. Critics descended followed by a chi chi uptown following that made the small house a tough ticket to book. “All I can say is Bao 111 and Bao Noodles are trademark names.” Chris Johnson said Sunday. The trio tried to keep Bao 111 going after Huynh defected and finally closed it down.
The press release for Bar Bao on West 82nd Street where Rain reigned for 12 years pointedly refers to the chef as Michael “Bao” Huynh. “Childhood nicknames are often shed during ones journey through life, but no nickname is more appropriate than that given to Bar Bao's executive chef,” it notes. ”Bao, which means ‘special’ or ‘precious’ in his native Vietnamese, is not only the restaurant’s moniker, but it aptly describes the self-taught chef’s unique culinary expression.” Johnson would not discuss his group’s next move.
Click here for short order archive.