Two of Dallas’ most peripatetic chefs have reunited to form the culinary consulting team for the new Sfuzzi Pizzeria Romana and the soon-to-open Primo’s in the Dallas Design District.
Both concepts have been purchased by Mehrdad Moayedi, president and CEO of Carrollton-based Centurion American Development Group. Moayedi’s company recently completed the $250 million Residences at the Stoneleigh. He’s also the developer with the $175 million plans to bring the Statler Hilton back to life.
So what does a big-time real estate developer do for fun? They get into the restaurant business. Moayedi has formed Cedar Cole Entertainment with plans to roll out the Sfuzzi Pizzeria Romana and Primo’s concepts.
Sfuzzi founder Robert (La Reve Group) Colombo has been tapped as chief consultant. Colombo closed the last Sfuzzi last December. He briefly consulted with Primo’s after the business was sold to Phil Lacerte and Frank Linero. Vito Calo and Frank Curtin are splitting general management duties and recruiting front-and-back-of-the house staff. Veteran Dallas chef and consultant Vincenzo Pappano is heading the culinary team which, starting today, will include Avner Samuel. “Originally they recruited me, but as and as soon as Avner’s contract was up [at Bistro 31], he contacted us,” Pappano says. “I love him. We come from the old school of classically trained traditional French chefs. Together we have 75 years of restaurant experience. It’s always fun when the two original bad boy chefs of Dallas get to work together. He’s like my brother.” Pappano and Samuel have worked together for 26 years at spots such as Bistro A, Cafe Med, and Aurora. Samuel will be the executive chef at Sfuzzi.
Pappano, who refers to himself as “the Moses of chefs,” has overseen or consulted on the kitchens of Eatzi’s, Mi Piaci Popolos Café, Campania Pizza, Crescent Court Hotel, and Blue Fish. His style? “Euro-American-Asian style of fusion to the Dallas Persian/Iranian, Israeli, Moroccan, Turkish, and Arabic cuisines.” He is a black belt in karate.
First up is Sfuzzi’s Pizzeria Romana which is slated to open mid-December in the former Naan Sushi spot at 2600 Cedar Springs. “I’m going to bring back the original Rat-Pack-New-York-Italian-American color of the original Sfuzzi menu,” Pappano says. “It’s natural for me. I’m a guy from the Jersey Shore and want to take the seafood that direction. And Robert [Colombo] is going to guide me there.”
Pappano hasn’t touched the Primo’s menu yet. “Originally there was just going to be one chef,” Pappano says. “I can’t do this by myself. So Avner and I can split up the duties and get it done.”
The Primo’s menu will be more casual than the one at Sfuzzi. “It’s what I call Sexi-Tex-Mexi,” Pappano says. “That means it’s new, hot Mexican sexy food.” Cedar Cole Entertainment’s first Primo’s will fill the space vacated by Central Standard at 1400 Hi Line Drive.
“This deal is going to be the Starship Enterprise of restaurants,” Pappano says. “For me to come around full circle all the way around and be back with Avner and this team of heavyweights is amazing. We can pull the best bartenders and servers in town. It’s going to be interesting.”
