1. Big name draws
There’s much buzz surrounding Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis’ second concept, a fast-casual called Pronto that’s scheduled to open at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas early this year. Pronto will serve California-influenced Italian food (salads, panini, gelato) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant will have a specialty coffee program, wine on tap and a full bar.
Celeb chef Paula Deen, whose folksy reputation was tarnished—and her TV gig axed—several years ago after she admitted to using racial slurs, is back on the scene with Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, a 250-seater set to debut in Dallas in the spring. The concept currently has two other locations. Deen licenses her name for the chain, run by a franchisee. The newest unit will include a full-size replica of the Southern cook’s kitchen, Deen-branded merchandise for sale and a menu of Southern comfort foods.
But one celebrity chef-run concept that likely won’t appear in 2018 is the buzzed-about fast casual from Ming Tsai. Last spring, Tsai shuttered his nearly 20-year-old Asian-fusion restaurant Blue Ginger to focus on developing his ChowStirs stir-fry concept. “Unfortunately, the ChowStirs project is on hold at this time due to some serious family health issues that Ming is dealing with,” a Tsai representative said in an emailed statement. She did not provide any further details.