A week ago, 60 Minutes dropped a bombshell of a segment outlining further (horrendous) allegations of sexual harassment by New York-based restaurateur Ken Friedman, who is a co-owner of our ~TOSCA CAFE~ with April Bloomfield. The segment also confirms Bloomfield is ending the partnership (finally). You can read more in this New York Times piece about what the dissolution of the partnership entails.
There were more horrific accounts (including a sexual assualt allegation) about Mario Batali’s monstrous behavior revealed in the segment as well (read more here), which seems to finally have been enough for Joe and Lidia Bastianich of the B&B Hospitality Group to (again, finally) announce they are ending their partnership with Batali. The NYPD is investigating this second sexual assault complaint against Batali. So much for the bosom buddies of the “rape room.” And last Friday, it was revealed that three of his Las Vegas restaurants are closing.
More fallout: the Chronicle reported that Tosca’s chef Josh Even and manager Dana Katzakian are leaving the restaurant after negotiations to take it over didn’t pan out. No word on what’s next for them, or the restaurant.
But hey, let’s see if Friedman finally announces plans for the former Lusty Lady space, which he took over in 2014 with Bloomfield. Actually, no, let’s skip that.
The dining room at Tosca. Photo by Sonya Yu via Tosca.
