Chef Emeril Lagasse Crafts New Signature Charlotte Restaurant

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Chef Emeril Lagasse unveiled plans today for "e2 Emeril's Eatery" at Levine Center for the Arts. Scheduled to open early next year, the new restaurant at 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts, Ste. 100, on the street level of the Levine Center for the Arts campus, is within easy walking distance of Uptown Charlotte's numerous art, business and cultural attractions. The Duke Energy Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, Mint Museum Uptown and Knight Theater surround the new restaurant.

Over 20 years ago Chef Emeril Lagasse introduced his first take on a refined neighborhood dining spot with the opening of Emeril's Restaurant in 1990, in what would soon become New Orleans' contemporary arts district. Now he is bringing his essence, energy and signature style to his new flagship Charlotte eatery. Owned and operated by Lagasse, e2 Emeril's Eatery will draw from Emeril's Restaurant in its purest form– comfort, warm service and delicious food, with an easy approach and an eye towards the future of modern American dining.

"With a thriving dining scene, my alma mater Johnson & Wales, the nearby universities and Charlotte's great cultural and arts community, I feel right at home here," said Emeril. "I'm excited to join the beautiful museums and attractions at the Levine Center for the Arts and Duke Energy Center with my new restaurant – e2 Emeril's Eatery. We're creating a comfortable, fun, neighborhood eatery that serves great food and drink at an affordable price."  

E2 will feature an eclectic menu and cooking methods that highlight Emeril's passion for elevating American classics. The menu will include some dishes inspired by his travels in the U.S. and abroad, plus a few twists on his New Orleans favorites – with a touch of Southern flavor that is uniquely Charlotte. A large bar will feature moderately priced wines, craft beers, unique spirits and handcrafted cocktails.

Construction of the space, on the street level of the Mint Museum Uptown and fronting the Levine Center for the Arts, began this summer and is on schedule for completion in early 2012.

The restaurant will seek LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and will both include energy-efficient and sustainable features.

The restaurant was designed by architectural firm Floss Barber, Inc. and is being built by Balfour Beatty Construction. Childress Klein Properties is leading the construction and property management on behalf of Wells Fargo & Co., owner of the Levine Center for the Arts development.

For more information on e2 Emeril's Eatery, including news and employment opportunities, please visit e2emerils.com. For all things Emeril Lagasse, please visit emerils.com.

About Emeril Lagasse:

Chef Emeril Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of 12 award-winning restaurants including three in New Orleans (Emeril's, NOLA and Emeril's Delmonico); four in Las Vegas (Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, Delmonico Steakhouse, Table 10 and Lagasse's Stadium); two in Orlando (Emeril's Orlando and Emeril's Tchoup Chop); and three in Bethlehem, Pa. (Emeril's Chop House, Burgers And More by Emeril and Emeril's Italian Table). He is a national TV personality who has hosted more than 2,000 shows on the Food Network. He is also the food correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America in addition to his popular TV food shows Emeril Live and The Originals with Emeril, both airing on Cooking Channel. In September, he launched his latest program, Emeril's Table, on Hallmark Channel. This fall, Emeril joined "Top Chef Texas" – season nine of Bravo's hit food series Top Chef, as the show's newest chef and restaurateur at judges table. A best-selling author, Emeril's creative approach to Creole cuisine is best summarized as "new" New Orleans cooking, also the title of his first cookbook. Fifteen more cookbooks have followed, including his most recent book Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders. In 2002, Emeril established the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support children's art and educational programs that inspire and mentor young people. To date, the Foundation has given over $4 million to children's causes. Lagasse's restaurant company, Emeril's Homebase, is located in New Orleans and houses culinary operations, a test kitchen for recipe development and a boutique storefront for his signature products.

SOURCE e2 Emeril's Eatery