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THE 130 MOST INSPIRING ASIAN AMERICANS
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Michael Chow
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how came to believes that when everything is so perfect it takes away the desire to improve. When the art and decorations were auctioned off, the art deco collection alone fetched a $5 million profit. Also sold was an impressive collection of Chinese art.

     Socially the Chows' New York life started with a bang. As soon as they moved to New York, Studio 54 gave Chow a surprise birthday bash for over a thousand guests. In their early days in New York hostess Tina became Mr Chow's public face. She could always be spotted at the hippest clubs in the fast company of the downtown fashion crowd which, at various times, included Grace Jones, Jerry Hall, Bianca Jagger and Beverly Johnson. Michael Chow wasn't a participant in many of Tina's outings. So glittery was Tina's social reputation, she regularly received complimentary couture dresses.

     Later, while Michael was frequently traveling to Kyoto to set up the fourth Mr Chow restaurant (the only one that was franchised; Chow gets a monthly royalty check for setting up the restaurant and training the staff), Tina took to hanging out with a predominantly gay crowd, according to one of the longtime waiters at the New York restaurant. Though the restaurant closes at 11:30 it wasn't unusual for the staff to be forced to wait until the wee, and not so wee, hours of the morning for Tina and company to finish. Finally, Tina would grab a few bottles of champagne and move the party upstairs to the celebrated apartment. Members of the New York staff recall her as being of "dubious" character, someone who preferred to talk through husband Michael than confront people directly.

     Tina's notorious partying expanded the Chow mystique, a definite plus from a business standpoint.

     From 1983 until the divorce — what might be considered the Tina Ascendant period — Chow appeared to others as good-humored but subdued, "a dandy dresser", a man of the 30s style, and unapprochable. Chow says he is "social but not sociable". A member of his restaurant staff who has been with him for nine years says, "He gets moody sometimes but if you leave him alone, he'll work it out himself." The same staffer adds, "Mr. Chow then and now is like night and day!"

     In retrospect Chow feels that his New York days were unhappy. For three years beginning in 1983 he played househusband. He recalls being "very depressed and not very creative." His only creative activity was helping Tina design her jewelry when she got into that business. He credits her with talent and having an eye for quality.

     Regardless of Chow's personal life, b y the mid-80s Mr Chow had become an institution. In a business where today's darling is tomorrow's stepchild, Mr Chow continued to be frequented by a colorful clientele and imitated by ambitious restaurateurs from Hong Kong to Paris.

     At the Mr Chow on 57th regulars make up 40% of the clientele, a very high ratio for the business. Many customers don't even need a menu. Arnold Scaasi and Morgan Stanley hold parties there. Other regulars include Mary Typer Moore who lives in the neighborhood. Warren Beatty, Mike Tyson, Robin Williams and Richard Gere. Another big segment of the clientele is tourists from Europe and Japan.

     Though conceived 11 years ago the interior of the New York restaurant looks fresh and modern. The original door of thick Lalique crystal is now said to be in a museum. Remarkably for so fashionable a place, the food is true to its origins, maintaining a rare degree of purity of ingredients. The freshness of the wonton skin in the soup, for example, actually evokes memories of home cooking, making one appreciate the significance of an on-premise pasta chef.

     Mr Chow's tuxedoed and utterly professional staff remains predominantly European though it once included a Chinese bartender. An impromptu tour of the kitchen reveals it to be immaculate. The walls are hung with Peter Blake, Dick Smith and Patrick Caulfield. The restaurant's peak hours are between 8 and 10 pm.

     It used to be that whenever Chow came into town the entire staff would sit at a round table and hold an informal staff meeting. Chow took great interest in the clientele. Now, much of the communication is through a bookkeeper.

     There are four ways to run a restaurant, declares Chow: "Love, money, sex and violence." You must love what you are doing. By paying lots of money or having an affair, you can get someone to stay at least for the duration of the affair. But violence works best, Chow says with a wink — the first sign that he has not been entirely on the level. Kidding aside, a guest leaves knowing exactly why Mr Chow has become a legend when so many contemporaries have closed their doors. Chow is merciless in imposing on his staff the need for attention to detail.

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Michael Chow designed Giorgio Armani's Beverly Hills store.




“He gets moody sometimes but if you leave him alone, he'll work it out himself.”





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