Gordon Ramsay Coming to America!

After much anticipation,Chef Gordon Ramsay, in association with LXR Luxury Resorts, is set to open his first U.S. restaurants. LXR Luxury Resorts announced its plans for the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its prized properties, the Rihga Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California. One Ramsay restaurant and bar will be inside the Rihga, renamed London NYC, and two within the Bel Age, renamed London LA. The refurbishment of both hotels will be conducted in stages so as to minimize disturbance to guests and both properties will remain open throughout the transformation. The London NYC will officially debut in Fall 2006 and the London LA will open in Spring 2007.

The New York restaurant will offer a fine dining experience, akin in concept to his celebrated three-Michelin-star restaurant in London's Chelsea, with a more relaxed menu in the adjacent bar area along the lines of Ramsay's recently opened "Maze" in London, where patrons construct their own tasting menus, choosing several small dishes according to appetite. In Los Angeles, Ramsay will open two restaurants, the concept for which has not yet been finalized. Commented Ramsay, "I am incredibly excited to debut my first restaurants in the U.S. within the London NYC and London LA properties. They will provide the perfect setting for what I plan to create there."