New York-based hospitality and entertainment company Grisini Hospitality Group (GHG), which incorporates Grisini Coffee shop, Food Hall and Market concepts announced the addition of Levent Veziroglu, founder and former CEO of restaurant management group d.ream, as Executive Board Member and Managing Partner. Also joining the project is Food Network judge and celebrity Chef, Marc Murphy, who will be leading the culinary experiences. The group will be opening its first stores, two coffee shops and a European-style food hall, which will be the first of its kind to open in the long awaited American Dream Meadowlands mega-mall.
Best known for his previous Manhattan-based restaurants, Landmarc and Ditch Plains, and seen as a judge on some of Food Network’s highest rated programs “CHOPPED,” and “CHOPPED JUNIOR,” Marc Murphy entered the restaurant industry at an early age, accepting an inaugural position at the age of 22 as a line cook at Terrance Brennan’s Prix Fixe in New York City. Eager to return to Europe, where he was born and spent most of his childhood, Murphy left the states to cook in a number of fine dining establishments throughout the continent, providing him with exposure to several different European cuisines and cooking techniques. That experience will be showcased through the 24 original concepts Murphy is creating for Grisini by Chef Marc Murphy, including a pizza counter, bakery, creperie, pasta station and raw bar.
Also joining Grisini is Levent Veziroglu, founder and former CEO of d.ream, the management group behind acclaimed international restaurants including Nusr-Et Steakhouse aka Saltbae, Zuma and Roka. Receiving his post-graduate education in Economics at the American University in Washington D.C., Veziroglu has assumed various positions in public and international institutions, including executive board member of the IMF, before joining Dogus Holding in 2008. During his tenure at Dogus Holding’s d.ream, Veziroglu orchestrated the operations of more than 170 restaurants in 12 countries, including La Petite Maison and Boston-based Nahita. Veziroglu will assume the role as Executive Board Member and Managing Partner for GHG. The company plans the expansion of its concepts in Manhattan immediately after the operations at the American Dream Meadowlands.
“Marc Murphy is one of the nation’s most celebrated and innovative chefs. We have no doubt that Grisini by Chef Marc Murphy will be an incredible experience,” says Levent Veziroglu. “We’re thrilled to provide our customers with an unparalleled culinary dining and shopping experience at Grisini Food Hall and Grisini Coffee Shops at American Dream Meadowlands, and look forward to opening our doors.”
Grisini by Chef Marc Murphy is expected to open in 2020 for lunch and dinner. In addition to the food hall, Grisini will also feature an artisanal coffee shop, and a marketplace providing retail products and packaged, prepared food for meals on-the-go.
