A taste of the stars.Black-owned celebrity restaurants are opening in cities nationwide A growing number of African American celebrities, working closely with restaurant industry veterans, are adding "restaurateur" to their credentials and creating some of the hottest dining spots for business travelers, tourists, local residents and fellow celebrities nationwide. Whether you're in the mood for down-home soul food, classic Cajun or nouvelle international cuisine, a star-powered dining experience is just minutes away. In New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. alone, six celebrity-owned restaurants have opened up since January 1997. Development in major cities and the creation of national chains are on the horizon for some celebrity ventures hoping to cash in on the lucrative black market. "Restaurateurs and celebrities are looking at the success of restaurants that target the middle-and upper-middle-class African American demographic," says Scott Mills, senior vice president of business development for BET Holdings, the parent company of Black Entertainment Television. While some celebrities prefer to be silent partners or to simply lend their famous names, others are fulfilling lifelong ambitions. "Celebrities are finding that restaurants enable them to synergize many aspects of their lifestyle, from entertaining large numbers of people and enjoying fine dining to conducting important business meetings and making substantial financial investments," says Allen West, general manager of Justin's in New York City and former restaurant industry consultant. Wherever you plan to go on business, chances are that you won't be far from one of these pallet-pleasing establishments. Take a few moments to pinpoint the following eateries, listed below, on your summer itinerary. NEW YORK CITY Justin's. Take one look at the baby grand piano and extensive wine list, and you'll sense the alter ego of Bad Boy Entertainment CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Puffy Combs at Justin's (31 W. 21st St.; 212-352-0599). Specializing in a lighter, more health-conscious approach to Southern and Caribbean foods, Justin's offers delicacies such as lobster pan roast and down-home faves like smothered pork chops, catfish and grits grits coarsely ground hominy served in traditional Southern breakfast. [Am. Culture: Misc.] See : Southern States , and red velvet cake A Red velvet cake is a type of rich and sweet chocolate cake (though it is often made without chocolate flavoring) which has a distinctive dark red or red-brown color. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, flour, cocoa powder, and often either beets, or red food coloring. covered with raspberry sauce. Prices for main courses range from $16 to $25. Little Jezebel Jezebel (jĕz`əbĕl), in the First Book of Kings, Phoenician princess who was the wife of King Ahab and the mother of Ahaziah, Jehoram, and Athaliah. Plantation. The little sister to Jezebel s, the longest-surviving black-owned upscale restaurant in midtown Manhattan, this Upper West Side spot boasts Wesley Snipes Snipes (Diminutive for Snipers) is a text-mode networked computer game that was created in 1983 by SuperSet software. Snipes is officially credited as being the original inspiration for Novell NetWare. , Denzel Washington and Julius "Dr. J" Irving among its backers. Little Jezebel Plantation (529 Columbus Ave.; 212-579-4952), a New Orleans-style restaurant, features Cajun and Creole main dishes including seafood Creole and smothered chicken priced from $12 to $18. Soul Cafe Actor Malik Yoba and partners recreate the supper clubs of the Harlem Renaissance in the heart of New York's theater district. Soul Cafe (444 W. 42nd St.; 212-244-7685) offers Afrocentric specialties reminiscent of the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and the American South--from the chef's signature jerk duck with red currant currant, northern shrub of the family Saxifragaceae (saxifrage family), of the same genus (Ribes) as the gooseberry bush. The tart berries of the currant may be black, white, or red; the white gooseberry becomes purple when mature. and merlot sauce to crusted red snapper with tropical orange and herb sauce. While dining on main courses ($13-$24), you can enjoy live music three days a week. Sugar Bar. Owners Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, of the singing/ producing duo Ashford & Simpson, lend their personal collection of artifacts artifacts see specimen artifacts. to create the harmony of an African village. At Sugar Bar (254 W. 72nd St.; 212-579-0222), feast on Mediterranean cuisine with Asian and African influences, including spicy braised braise tr.v. braised, brais·ing, brais·es To cook (meat or vegetables) by browning in fat, then simmering in a small quantity of liquid in a covered container. lamb shank, pepper-crusted tuna with mango salsa and phyllo-wrapped warm chocolate cake with caramelized raspberries. Prices for main courses range from $17 to $23. CHICAGO The Original Michael Jordan's, The restaurant. Hearty appetite? Try the authentic "MJ's Pre-game Meal"--a 23-ounce New York Strip Noun 1. New York strip - steak from upper part of the short loin strip steak beefsteak - a beef steak usually cooked by broiling Steak and an Idaho baked potato--or enjoy other classic American favorites ranging from $7 to $36 at The Original Michael Jordan's, The Restaurant (500 N. LaSalle St., 312-644-DUNK). On the first floor, MJ's Fast Break Bar & Grill features a 20-by-6-ft. video wall and a three-tier "skybox sky·box n. An elevated, usually enclosed private compartment for viewing events at a sports stadium. Noun 1. skybox - an elevated box for viewing events at a sports stadium " for prime viewing. Michael Jordan's, The Steakhouse (212-655-2300), a new eatery opening in New York City's Grand Central Terminal, will debut in July. Walter Payton's Roundhouse. Built in 1856, this historic railroad repair station is now a 72,000-sq.-ft. dining and entertainment complex, partly owned by the former Chicago Bears running back. Walter Payton's Roundhouse (205 N. Broadway, Aurora, IL; 630-264-BREW) includes America's Brewpub brew·pub n. 1. See microbrewery. 2. A saloon where the owners make their own beer and serve it on the premises. Noun 1. , a 7,000-barrel microbrewery mi·cro·brew·er·y n. pl. mi·cro·brew·er·ies A small brewery, generally producing fewer than 10,000 barrels of beer and ale a year and frequently selling its products on the premises. Also called boutique brewery, brewpub. and American cuisine restaurant with dinner entrees ranging from $9 to $27; the Cognac Cigar Bar, an assortment of spirits and cigars; and The Walter Payton Museum. Located 25 miles west of Chicago. LOS ANGELES Georgia. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Debbie Allen, Eddie Murphy, Norm Nixon and Denzel Washington are all part-owners of Georgia (7250 Melrose Ave.; 213-933-8420). The restaurant evokes images of a Jamaican plantation--from the rich mahogany bar and floors to the palm-filled patio--while offering delectables from traditional Southern fried chicken to pecancrusted striped bass with herb-baked potatoes. Prices for entrees range from $12 to $24. Odessa. Since December 1996, Norm Nixon has been paying homage to his grandmother, Odessa, and her down-home cooking through this Southern California establishment. Co-owned by Nixon's wife, Debbie Allen, and a line-up of celebrity friends, Odessa (680 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA; 714-376-8792) offers traditional soul food with a French twist. Upstairs, the nightclub often features live music. Main courses range from $16 to $32. HOUSTON Drexler's Bar B.Q. Downtown Houston's favorite barbeque joint has been in basketball legend Clyde Drexler's family for 31 years--in fact, a teenaged Clyde worked behind the counter. With Clyde's mom, Eunice, at the helm of Drexler's Bar B.Q. (2020 Dowling; 713-752-0008) and brother James in the kitchen, customers enjoy classic soul food and barbeque fare, including ribs, chicken and hot sausage links. Dinner averages $7. ATLANTA Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's Chicken & Waffles. Partly owned by music diva Gladys Knight and gospel singer Ron Winans, this comfortable bistro departs from the diner image of similar establishments, yet maintains a $7 average price for entrees. Recent additions to the nouvelle soul food at Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's Chicken and Waffles Chicken and waffles is a dish, combining waffles, typically a breakfast food, with chicken, sometimes fried, that is served in certain specialty restaurants in the United States. The most famous of these restaurants is Roscoe's. (618 Ponce de Leon Ponce de Le·ón , Juan 1460-1521. Spanish explorer who sailed with Columbus on his second voyage (1493-1494) and discovered Florida (1513) while looking for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Noun 1. Ave.; 404874-9393) include such healthy items as veggie omelets, along with sinful desserts like sweet potato cheesecake with caramel sauce and pecan pies. The Industry. This upscale supper club embodies the smooth persona of its owner, R&B vocalist Keith Sweat. The menu at The Industry (1789 Cheshire Bridge Rd.; 404-817-3722) delights guests with Cajun/Southern cuisine prepared by a Louisiana-born chef, along with Keith's mom, who prepares the macaroni and cheese, collard greens Noun 1. collard greens - kale that has smooth leaves collards cole, kail, kale - coarse curly-leafed cabbage and peach cobbler herself. On weekends, live jazz is offered at the restaurant, or head to the dance club on the lower level. Main courses range from $13 to $20. WASHINGTON, D.C. BET on Jazz. Downtown D.C.s new restaurant, BET on Jazz (730 11th St. NW; 202-608-2032; will open in July) brings the cable channel to life in a jazzy jazz·y adj. jazz·i·er, jazz·i·est 1. Resembling jazz in form or nature; rhythmical. 2. Slang Showy; flashy: a jazzy car. , art-deco environment. Culinary creativity is evident on the New World Caribbean menu, with specialties ranging from Caribbean-spiced maple leaf duck breast to broiled broil 1 v. broiled, broil·ing, broils v.tr. 1. To cook by direct radiant heat, as over a grill or under an electric element. 2. To expose to great heat. v. Colorado lamb chops and Bahamian grouper grouper, common name for a large carnivorous member of the family Serranidae (sea bass family), abundant in tropical and subtropical seas and highly valued as food fish. . Jazz music greats and rising stars will be featured live on weekends. Entrees will be moderately priced. BET SoundStage. Black Entertainment Television makes you the celebrity as you enjoy traditional American cuisine with a distinctly Southern flair. "Interactive hosts" engage patrons in trivia, sing-alongs and celebrations, while others watch on video monitors situated throughout the high-tech, casual dining restaurant. BET SoundStage (9640 Lottsford Court, Largo, MD; 301-883-9500) is located 10-15 minutes north of downtown D.C. Entrees range from $11 to $19. B. Smith's. Lifestyles guru Barbara Smith lends trademark style to her New York City and D.C. restaurants. At B. Smith's in D.C. (50 Massachusetts Ave. NE; 202-289-6188), Union Station's turn-of-the-century Presidential Suite provides a dramatic backdrop to the eclectic Southern and regional specialties. Savory dishes ranging from $11 to $22 include glazed pork tenderloin with spicy mango-papaya chutney chut·ney n. A pungent relish made of fruits, spices, and herbs. [Hindi ca  n and Virginia trout with vegetable and seafood stuffing.
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