Alon Shaya Will Open a New Israeli Restaurant in New Orleans

Very few details on this right now, but Alon Shaya let it slip that “he would soon announce the opening of a new Israeli restaurant in New Orleans, declining to divulge many specifics,” reports the Advocate.

Alon Shaya made the announcement after leaving a hearing on Wednesday, in which the judge denied Alon Shaya’s request that the BRG Hospitality immediately stop using the Shaya name. The hearing was part of an ongoing battle between the high profile chefs over the Shaya name, with Alon Shaya arguing that it was his heritage and talent that made the restaurant successful.

Besh argues that BRG Hospitality was the first to use the Shaya name in commerce, that Alon Shaya has no legal right to the business name, and that BRG’s PR team and investments had a lot to do with the restaurant’s success.

The court won’t decide the issue for about a year, so Alon Shaya requested the name be removed from the restaurant in the interim, claiming it was being sullied by the sexual harassment allegations blanketing BRG Hospitality.

Shaya was fired from the three restaurants he helmed at BRG Hospitality in October. Since then, he started his own group — Pomegranate Hospitality. Without a restaurant under that umbrella, he managed to poach some of Shaya restaurant’s top talent, including James Beard Award winner Zach Engel, former Shaya executive sous chef Cara Peterson, and former Shaya GM Sean Courtney.

Eater NOLA has reached out to Pomegranate Hospitality for comment.

MORE READING

Judge Denies Alon Shaya’s Request to Bar John Besh Group From Using His Name on Popular Restaurant [ADVOCATE]

Tracking Shaya/Besh Split [ENOLA]

Tracking John Besh Sexual Harassment Allegations [ENOLA]