Florent (restaurant)
40°44′22″N74°00′27″W/ 40.739483°N 74.007572°W
| Florent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurantinformation | |
| Established | 1985 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Food type | French[1][2] |
| Street address | 69 Gansevoort Street |
| City | New York City |
| State | New York |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 10014 |
| Country | United States |
Florentwas an all-nightdinerin theMeatpacking DistrictofManhattanthat opened in 1985 and closed in 2008.
History
[edit]Florent was located at 69Gansevoort Street,one of the few remainingcobblestonestreets inNew York City.[3]In 1985 Florent Morellet took over the R&L Restaurant, which had opened in 1943, and renamed it Florent.[4]The following January, a reporter forNew Yorkmagazine referred to it as "New York's hottest downtown eating spot".[5]
Florent was a hub of gay New York. Morellet was diagnosedHIVpositive in 1987 and used to post hisT-cellcount on the restaurant's wall menu along with the daily specials.[4]It attracted a highly eclectic clientele.[4][2]It was also known for itsBastille Daycelebrations, which started in 1989, the year of the French bicentennial.[6]Other major annual celebrations wereHalloween,New Year's Eve,andOscar Night.[7]Morellet campaigned for the preservation of the neighborhood and became known as "Unofficial Mayor of the Meatpacking District"; he preferred "Unofficial Queen".[2]
The graphic design for the restaurant was designed byTibor Kalmanand Douglas Riccardi from M&Co, in exchange for free meals;[4][7]examples are now in theMoMAdesign collection.[8]
Florent Morellet, the eponymous owner of the restaurant, is the youngest son of French conceptual artist,François Morellet.[1]
Erica De Mane,thefood journalistand cookbook writer, began her cooking career at Florent in 1985.[9]
Florent closed on June 29, 2008, after the landlord raised the rent considerably.[4][1][2]In the last weeks, Morellet held five parties themed after thestages of grief.[4][1]
Films
[edit]In May 2011, Magic Lantern releasedFlorent: Queen of the Meat Market,adocumentary historyof the restaurant directed byDavid Sigal.[10]
As of September 2015[update],Alan Cummingis planning to co-produce with Sigal and star in aShowtimebiography of Morellet focusing on Florent.[11][12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdBruni, Frank(May 21, 2008)."Genre-Bending Hangout Takes Its Final Bows".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2014.RetrievedJune 23,2014.
- ^abcdAmsden, David (May 25, 2008)."The 25th Hour of Florent Morellet".New York magazine.Archivedfrom the original on July 29, 2014.RetrievedJune 24,2014.
- ^"Neighborhood Report: West Village; Shifting Shadows and the Multiple Personality of the Meatpacking District".The New York Times.February 5, 1985.Archivedfrom the original on August 30, 2023.RetrievedJune 23,2014.
- ^abcdefLoudis, Jessica (July 1, 2016)."Florent Was the Most Progressive Diner in New York".Extra Crispy.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2017.RetrievedJune 23,2017.
- ^Costikyan, Barbara (January 6, 1986)."Coffee-Shop Chic".New York magazine.p. 15.Archivedfrom the original on August 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 10,2021.
- ^"Playing In The Neighborhood".The New York Times.July 17, 1994.Archivedfrom the original on April 18, 2015.RetrievedJune 24,2014.
- ^ab"Projects: Florent".Memo NY.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2017.RetrievedJune 23,2017.
- ^"Tibor Kalman, Alexander Isley: Restaurant Florent Menu, 1985".Museum of Modern Art.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2019.RetrievedJune 23,2017.
- ^"About Erica De Mane".My Mediterranean Diet(blog). October 10, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2014.RetrievedOctober 10,2014.
- ^McCracken, Kristin (May 18, 2011)."Florent: Queen of the Meat Market".Tribeca Film.RetrievedJune 23,2017.
- ^Littleton, Cynthia (June 25, 2014)."SundanceTV Revs Development with Projects from Alan Cumming, Todd Field, Patrick Dempsey".Variety.RetrievedJune 25,2014.
- ^Snicks (September 28, 2015)."Alan Cumming To Star In New Series About Gay New York Restaurateur Florent Morellet".New Now Next.Archivedfrom the original on March 10, 2017.RetrievedJune 24,2017.