From the Washingtonian:

He may look like a jolly French Santa Claus, but chef Michel Richard of Citronelle and Central Michel Richard looked jollier than normal [Sunday] night. In honor of six decades—more than half of which have been spent filling lucky diners’ bellies with livers, duck confit, and lobster medallions—Richard was tricked into an evening drive to CityZen. There, a crowd of about 200 friends, fellow chefs, food-media types, and family members drank Champagne in blazers and cocktail dresses while waiting to surprise the birthday boy. With invitations sent a month ago, could the night really be kept secret? Didn’t it dawn on Richard that CityZen is normally closed Sundays? Or that his Central kitchen staff had been acting funny? His press-relations director, Mel Davis, didn’t seem to think so, but according to one rumored story, spread throughout the evening, Richard had a gut feeling in the car ride over. He apparently asked his wife, “Zees isn’t a surprise partay, ees it?”

For the best moments of the night list, visit the link above for The Washingtonian. For sweet photos of the affair check out the Flickr gallery.

{11 Mar 2008}