'?uest Loves Food' POWERED by GRAHAM ELLIOT Launches at the Penthouse at Mondrian SoHo

Tue May 8 10:43:09 CDT 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Carleen Donovan, Carleen at pressherepublicity.com; PRESS HERE 212.246.2640

Pamela Spiegel, Pamela at bullfrogandbaum.com; Bullfrog & Baum 212.255.6717

'?uest Loves Food' POWERED by GRAHAM ELLIOT Launches at the Penthouse at Mondrian SoHo

[photo] [May 8, 2012, New York, NY] - "?uest Loves Food POWERED BY Graham Elliot," the signature food line that spawned from the culinary partnership between Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and Michelin Star Chef Graham Elliot launched last night during a festive event at the Penthouse at Mondrian SoHo.  The event celebrated the launch of the joint venture, whose concept is a fully immersive experience bringing food, music and "out-of-the-box" artistry to the forefront of food curation and special events.

Guests of Sunday night's event were able to sample 'Love's Drumsticks' as well as a variety of other items from the '?uest Loves Food' POWERED by Graham Elliot line including truffled deviled eggs, black + white popcorn and lovepops in a variety of seasonal flavors.

?uestlove and Chef Graham Elliot collaborated on the design of the space working with MODA botanica, a floral design studio, who found inspiration in the new venture's logo, incorporating gold flowers and leaves, and smoky black vases and collaborated with NYC-based fashion designer and installation artist, Samantha Sleeper. Event sponsors Amstel Light, SVEDKA, TY_KU Sake, Hayman's Gin and Leblon Cachaca treated guests including Aziz Ansari, Jay Pharaoh and Amber Heard to a preview of the "? + GE" menu.

The culinary partnership between Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson and Chef Graham Elliot took flight during James Beard Weekend in NYC. Thompson and Elliot first met at Lollapalooza in 2011, where Chef Elliot is the festival's Culinary Director. A friendship quickly formed based on their artistic talents and shared passion for music and food.

"I feel our personalities pair perfectly together, incorporating food and music seemed like a no-brainer, so we jumped at the opportunity," said Chef Graham Elliot of the growing friendship and business partnership. In addition to the launch of their partnership, they also have plans to bring their curated venture to industry parties and events, as well as food and wine festivals.

Additional information and a preview of menu items offered by Chef Graham Elliot are available upon request. To view images from the event please visit:

http://www.wireimage.com/search/#events?q=questlove/[143981497]&ep=1/60/1&s=3 http://www.wireimage.com/search/#events?q=questlove/[143967451]&ep=1/60/1&s=3

About ?uest Loves Food and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson

Acclaimed drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of the The Roots - Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, is making his way into the culinary world with ?uest Loves Food and his signature "Love's Drumsticks."  ?uestlove is the unmistakable heartbeat of The Roots, Philadelphia's most influential hip-hop band.  The Roots have won four GRAMMY Awards and received 7 nominations for their work over the course of their recording career. Beyond that, this musician's indisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from D'Angelo to Eminem to Jay-Z.    He is the Musical Director for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and his beloved Roots crew serves as house band. In addition to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, ?uestlove is also the Musical Director for the Comedy Awards on Comedy Central and will be in several commercials this year.

?uest Loves Food begins its culinary quest in 2011, featuring Creole and Korean inspired soul food with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and "on-a-stick" decadence, for high profile industry events.   ?uest Loves Food has battled David Chang of momofuku on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, taken over the cafeteria at Google, featured at Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs Event, and "Love's Drumsticks have been featured in Food & Wine Magazine and Bon Appetit Magazine; listed in their "Top 25 Things to Eat, Drink, and Cook in 2012".

About Chef Graham Elliot

Chef Graham Elliot is a creative culinary wizard with an innate ability to successfully juxtapose four-star cuisine with humor, wit and "out-of-the-box" artistry. At age 27, he became the youngest Four Star Chef to be named in any major U.S. city and was named one of Food & Wine magazine's "Best New Chef" in 2004.  In recent years has accrued several prestigious accolades, including multiple James Beard Foundation nominations as well as being named one of Crain's Chicago Business' list of  "40 Under Forty", putting him in an elite club that includes luminaries such as Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Graham began working on his own restaurant at age 30, opening the aptly named Graham Elliot, a restaurant that would not only bear his name but become an extension of his passionate personality, embodying his core belief that cooking is an artistic, creative outlet.  Since opening its doors the restaurant has hypnotized the city of Chicago, garnering one Michelin star in both 2011 and 2012.  Soon after the opening of Graham Elliot, Chef Graham Elliot opened the fast-casual sandwich concept simply titled "Grahamwich" in Chicago's River North area. Coming this May, Chef Graham Elliot will open his third Chicago restaurant, g.e.b., offering a seasonally focused menu using old world techniques with three ingredients or less per dish.  Located in the "West Loop" of Chicago's fabled Randolph Street, the bistro will rely on local farmers and markets and do as little to the product as possible.  Expect lunch, dinner, brunch and an outdoor patio in the summer time.

In addition to appearing on Iron Chef and two seasons of the popular show "Top Chef Masters," Graham co-stars alongside Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich in the FOX series "MasterChef," which is now in its third season.  Graham, a singer and guitarist in his own right, is also the Culinary Director of Lollaplooza where he helps setup ChowTown with the best chefs and restaurants Chicago has to offer. In 2012 Graham will be inducted into the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame. Graham resides in Chicago with his wife and business partner, Allie, and his two children, Mylo and Conrad.

Carleen Donovan
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