Jean-Georges meets the Jet Age. World-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will premiere the Paris Café restaurant at the 512-room TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport, opening in spring 2019. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and cocktails at a medium price point.
Located in the heart of the iconic 1962 Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal, the Paris Café by Jean-Georges will encompass the entire footprint of the terminal’s original Paris Café and Lisbon Lounge, which have been dark since 2001. The spaces were originally outfitted by famed Parisian industrial designer Raymond Loewy — the mind behind the 1955 Coca-Cola contour bottle, the 1959 TWA twin globes logo, the 1963 Studebaker Avanti, the 1962 Air Force One livery, and the 1971 Shell logo. Vongerichten’s take on the restaurant will help reignite the magic of the Jet Age throughout the TWA Hotel.
The restaurant’s name holds special significance for Vongerichten: Raised on the outskirts of Strasbourg in Alsace, France, the chef trained in classical French cuisine at Auberge de I’lll in Alsace and L’Oasis in southern France before developing a passion for flavors of the East at luxury hotels in Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong. Vongerichten now operates 36 restaurants, including ABC Kitchen in Manhattan, Mercato in Shanghai and Simply Chicken in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“Around the world, Jean-Georges is known for his delicious dishes and impeccable service,” says Tyler Morse, CEO and Managing Partner of MCR and MORSE Development. “He is the perfect chef to reinvigorate the legendary Paris Café for our guests and JFK travelers.”
As an avid traveler,” says Jean-Georges Vongerichten, “I am very excited to be a part of recreating a culinary destination in this iconic landmark.”
Vongerichten will partner with Tastes on the Fly, a leading boutique airport restaurateur with more than 20 locations coast to coast, on the restaurant.
Connected to JetBlue Terminal 5 via the flight tubes made famous by the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, the TWA Hotel features 512 ultra-quiet guestrooms, 50,000 square feet of event space for up to 1,600 people, a 10,000 square foot fitness center, a rooftop pool and observation deck and a museum devoted to TWA and the midcentury modern design movement.
About Tastes on the Fly
Tastes on the Fly operates 17 brands in 22 locations in 4 of the busiest airports in the United States. From fine dining to casual quick-serve and artisan markets, the company is committed to bringing local culinary icons to the airport terminal. Their focus on operations, service and value has paid off — they are regularly included in national “Best of Airport Dining” press lists. Their innovative Napa Farms Market in SFO has won every major airport concession award, including ARN, Moodie International FAB Awards and ACI’s Greisbach Award. www.tastesonthefly.com
About Jean-Georges
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of the world’s most famous chefs; his skills extend far beyond the kitchen. A savvy businessman and restaurateur, Jean-Georges is responsible for the operation and success of a constellation of 36 three and four star restaurants worldwide. www.jean-georges.com
