EaterWire: Tyler Florence Opening Restaurant in Nob Hill

The York Hotel, soon to be Hotel Vertigo/Tyler Florence Central. [Photo: Flickr]

NOB HILL—Not to be outdone by fellow television personality Michael Chiarello, Tyler Florence will also be joining the local restaurant landscape. The man dubbed as the "world's sexiest chef" by People will be opening his first restaurant in the remodeled Hotel Vertigo, currently the York Hotel (Film buffs will connect the dots and recognize that the York Hotel was featured prominently in Hitchcock's Vertigo). The $5 million hotel renovation—by Thomas Schoos of Koi, Tao et al.—is expected to be complete by summer '08, when Florence's restaurant is also anticipated to open in the former Empire Plush Room space. The PR color follows:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 11, 2008 – San Francisco eat your heart out! Cutting-edge San Francisco boutique hotel company Personality Hotels announced today that it has signed a deal to partner with one of America' hottest culinary stars – Tyler Florence – to open a restaurant in Hotel Vertigo (currently the York Hotel). This will be Florence's first restaurant, and it is highly anticipated to shake up the San Francisco gastronomic scene.

Located in San Francisco's Nob Hill District, the 97-room York Hotel is currently undergoing a $5 million renovation spearheaded by award-winning, LA-based Thomas Schoos Design, Inc., renowned for the interior design of Huntley Hotel and O-Bar, Koi, Table 8 and Tao restaurants. Upon completion in Summer 2008, York Hotel will be renamed Hotel Vertigo after Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 classic thriller staring James Stewart and Kim Novak (Novak's character lived in the York Hotel during the last half of the film). Florence's restaurant will be located in the hotel's former Empire Plush Room space, and is scheduled to open in Summer 2008.

"Tyler is one of the world's most popular chefs, and we are very energized and honored to bring such a talented, creative and fun personality to the San Francisco culinary scene," says Personality Hotels' President and CEO Yvonne Lembi-Detert. "The City is truly gaining a shining star sure to ignite our taste buds and spice up our imagination!"

"I am thrilled to be working with Personality Hotels to bring my first signature restaurant to San Francisco," says Florence. "Having recently moved to the Bay Area from New York City, I wake up every day in awe of this true culinary utopia. I look forward to being a part of it, and bringing something very special to the City of San Francisco."

A recent transplant to the San Francisco Bay Area, Florence's culinary expertise, complemented by his personable style and charisma, has lead to an extremely successful career for more than a decade. Named the "Sexiest Chef Alive" by People magazine, prominent chef, television celebrity and acclaimed author Florence is the star of three Food Network television programs including How to Boil Water, a cooking show for novices, Food 911, his hugely popular "recipe rescue" show and Tyler's Ultimate, showcasing crowd-pleasing classic comfort food. In addition, Florence is the author of three cookbooks - Tyler Florence's Real Kitchen, Eat This Book: Cooking with Global Fresh Flavors and Tyler's Ultimate.