Unpacking the Collateral Damage of Restaurateur Ken Friedman

On the latest episode of the Eater Upsell podcast, we speak with special correspondent Meghan McCarron about this week’s three big stories revolving around shamed restaurateur Ken Friedman and the powerful women who were unfortunate enough to partner with him. New York Magazine examines Gabrielle Hamilton and Ashley Merriman’s decision to partner with Friedman on The Spotted Pig and then abandon said plans. Here they talk extensively for the first time about the fallout of their decisions and what led to them.

Meanwhile, the New York Times gets Friedman’s former partner April Bloomfield on the record for the first time since the accusations against him came to light last year. She mostly sounds ashamed and defeated. To what degree was she a victim herself? To what degree was she responsible for her staff?

And in the background of all of this, Friedman faces a $5 million lawsuit from his former business partners at the Ace Hotel for allegedly cooking the books at the John Dory and the Breslin.

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