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Feenie fights from the fringes

ALEXANDRA GILL

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 12:59 PM EDT 07/11/07

The Iron Chef looks to ensure future independent ventures ...Read the full article

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  1. WC Dieno from Canada writes: Hey feenie shmeeney ........... the guy is just a cook ..... all be it a great one but still just a cook ........ this hero worship and celeb status for a guy who's just lifted up on the TV's of North America to take our eyes off our our homelessnes, wars overseas, child poverty etc etc. It's a planned diversion by the Masters of the Universe (people like the Fraser Stinkatitute) to keep you masses from thinking too much ..... enough of Brittany Spears too!
  2. JA M from Our Town, Canada writes: WC you must be a riot at parties
  3. Mike from Van from Vancouver, Canada writes: The idle rich must be all a-flutter over this. Most Vancouverites couldn't afford to eat at Feenie's restaurants even if they could get a reservation.
  4. Surf City from West Coast, Canada writes: If the Sidoos really did breach their employmnet contract with Feenie then the non-compete clause is null and void. Slam dunk. Feenie will be operating a new restaurant soon. Watch for it to happen. But that new restaurant better live up to his reputation right from the beginning - no slow start allowed or the reviews will be merciless.
  5. Rain SCM from Canada writes: The word in the industry is that after his previous partners headed down to Las Vegas, partially to escape the situation at Lumiere, he needed new partners. The new partners immediately looked at cost cutting measures. The single largest loss of money was Feenie's expense account, so they took it away. He also had a show, cooking that the average person could not do, and no one wanted to work with him anymore. Instead of being grateful, maybe making a meal or two for the crew, he told everyone to go to White Spot across the street. You know, the restaurant he is doing commercials for because he now has no more income. He would also walk into other restaurants and expect that his meal be comped (given for free) just because of who he is. There are many stories around Vancouver about just how much of an a**hole this guy is. He is not very well liked by the average guy in Vancouver and he has become quite a pariah in the gourmet community. He is so talented, it is a shame that he is such a nasty person.

    What this article illustrates is that he has not learned from this situation. He has not learned to be, as many Vancouver restauranteurs have told me, humble. He is willing to believe that none of this situation was his fault and that everyone is wrong. That is why, until he learns humanity, I will never step into one of his restaurants. Finally, I will be able to eat at Lumiere and support young Canadian talent.
  6. Jennifer Rollison from Canada writes: Feenie doesn't even cook at Lumiere...the chef and line staff do. Rob comes out in a stark white chef' jacket and glad hands...As long as Lumiere keeps its high standards there should be no problem. In fact, often change is a very good thing (having owned a restaurant and changed chef's myself).
  7. Freshand Forwardthinking from Canada writes: Character assassination is a slippery slope. Having heard first-hand comments from those who know both Feenie and the Sidoos, it is the latter who are in over their rather big heads. Local restaurant reviewers have already noted Lumiere's slide from extraordinary to merely excellent. It will be exceedingly difficult to maintain Relais & Chateaux membership. Meanwhile, Feenie's role in the much anticipated penthouse restaurant atop Vancouver's new Holt-Renfrew is now delayed and in doubt. Despite some of the preceeding vicious chatter, there will be many investors lining up to help Feenie open again, once the media & legal jousting is settled.
  8. Fugget About It from Victoria, Canada writes: I agree with Freshand!

    As an aside, the Sidoos are vile creatures and are in WAY over their heads.
  9. ELeGAnTly wASted from Canada writes: He's a great cook, no doubt, and has a lot of talent. And like all great artists, his ego is huge, his temper is bad, his judgement in business matters is poor. But he's a great cook (I should say a great chef), and I thank him for many great dinners.
  10. joe before from Canada writes: I had the most enjoyable meal at Lumiere in 2005 - food and service were exquisite. Even though the prices had jumped 50% in 2 years, we booked another highly anticipated evening in early September. The service was still spectacular, but the food was completely disappointing. 3 out of our 7 courses wowed us. The rest were --- meh. When we saw the news this week we clued into why.
  11. Larry Robinson from white Rock, Canada writes: The food biz is full of egos and intrigues beyond the harangues of Gordon Ramsay. Thoroughbred horses and chefs ... invest only if you can afford to loose.

    I have only see the periphary through friends associated in the business.

    And that is why I am in awe of John Bishop who "humbly" continues to put out a high quality experience without the huge press but also minus the drama.
  12. Robin Blackburn from Canada writes: Of course he has a big ego - which successful creative person doesn't?

    He made Lumiere - whether he cooks there personally or not.

    Despite being of modest means, we have taken pains to eat there and have taken friends who have travelled to Canada from overseas to eat there and have never been disappointed, despite having a quite high standards when that sort of dollar is spent.

    I don't care who is right - Feenie is the one responsible for orchestrating the food that made the restaurant. Sidwho?

    Won't be eating at Lumiere or Feenies again but will be cooking from the cookbooks and awaiting new ventures eagerly.

    And if Gaston the imperturbable, and suave, waiter ever reads this post - many, many thank yous from us fans - you're service was amazing!
  13. Jennifer Rollison from Canada writes: Robin...you are the epitome of the term...victim...Lumiere does not need you...
  14. shoshana berman from Canada writes: Non compete clauses are standard in the industry when someone buys your restaurant, which the Sidoo's did. They are limited by distance and time, so all Feenie has to do is move his new restaurant out of the area or wait. He is not being prevented from making a living at all. He agreed to this non compete to get himself out of bancrupcy. Feenie is wrong to be playing this in the media, if he doesn't stop this, no one will work with him or invest in him ever again. This couple saved him from bankrupcy. The employment contract has nothing to do with the non-compete contract by the way. The non-compete is for purchasing the restaurant, and is standard. Feenie would be shut down by court order and any investor dumb enough to give him money would loose it all to the Sidoos and lawyers if they openned a restaurant with himn in violation of the non-compete. No court will rule against the non-compete because it would make the 10's of thousands of other non-competes signed whenever a restaurant or many other businesses are sold in Canada null and void.
  15. Surf City from West Coast, Canada writes: Like all disputes, either there will be a settlement or the parties end up in court. At present all we know is that Feenie is claiming breach of contract. It remains to be seen what he can proove in court.

    Shoshana, you are probably correct to note that the employment contract and the restaurant purchase contract are separate contracts. However, the non-compete clause in the restaurant purchase contract would likely only applies if Feenie were to leave Lumiere of his own volition. In the event that he can prove that he was forced out by his new partners, I doubt that any court will enforce the non-compete clause and prevent Feenie from opening a new restaurant in order to earn a living.
  16. X. T. from Canada writes: Well, if there is a non-compete clause, then there is a non-compete clause and Rob Feenie signed. I don't think there is anything preventing him from opening another restaurant in another area such as Toronto or Niagara-on-the-lake. Just that he doesn't want to move.

    And for the record, I am a fan of Rob's cooking. I like his creativity though I wouldn't follow his recipes since they are almost always on the expensive side. I consider myself talented in cooking. I like making wonderful things out of cheap ingredients instead of froi gras or like, so everyone can enjoy at home without paying $100-plus per dish. And by the way I follow no cook books. If anything I think I can write one.
  17. A. Nonymous from Canada writes: Brilliant legal analysis with no actual facts, information or first hand knowledge of the contracts in question Shoshana, remind me to retain you asap. Surf City has likely made the better overall assessment. There are about two dozen different ways this thing could go before "no court rules against the non-compete."

    In any event, Feenie may be precluded from opening another restaurant in Vancouver in the immediate future but that doesn't mean he's down for the count. I loved his show on Food network and would a show with him along the same lines as 'chef at home'.

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