NYC star chef Scott Conant has cut bait on his DC outpost of Scarpetta, per Tom Sietsema. The latest offshoot of Conant's three-star NYC restaurant—there's also one in Miami—was originally slated to open the Meat-Packing District space that last housed Todd English's ill-fated Olives. Conant's plan was to continue the Italian celebrity chef run at 1600 K Street, NW, all while Scarpettas continue to pop up around the country (see: Vegas). But alas, despite already having design and management teams lined up, Conant has had a change of heart and has pulled the plug on the project:
The timing is awful, says the chef, who has a second Scarpetta in Miami. In addition to taking on a couple new restaurant and TV projects, he has a pregnant wife ... Conant says any plans to try again in Washington would be on the "back, back burner."No word on how this development will impact Conant's plans for Scarpetta Istanbul.
· New York Chef Scratches Plans to Open Scarpetta in D.C. [WaPo]
· One Year In: Scarpetta [~ENY~]