Southpinellas: Food world parses resume

A world of foodies, from bloggers to Food Network executives, mobilized on Monday to divine the truth about celebrity chef and would-be St. Petersburg restaurateur Robert Irvine, whose boasts of knighthood and friendship with Prince Charles were debunked in an article Sunday in the St. Petersburg Times.

Irvine, who plans to open side-by-side Beach Drive restaurants called Ooze and Schmooze, is also contending with business contacts who say he misled or didn't pay them.

The fallout from Sunday's story, headlined "TV chef spiced up his past exploits":

- The Food Network, which airs Irvine's show, Dinner: Impossible, pulled his biography and celebrity chef status from its Web site, though a page about the show still appears there.

"It's unfortunate if Robert embellished the extent of his culinary experiences," Food Network spokeswoman Lisa Del Colle wrote. "We are investigating the matter and taking the necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of all representations of Robert on Food Network and foodnetwork.com."

- Dave Avery, the chef responsible for baking Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles' wedding cake, questioned Irvine's claim that he helped create the cake.

Irvine - who has said he has part of the frozen wedding cake in his freezer - describes his involvement in his 2007 book, Mission: Cook!: "Earlier work landed me a coveted spot at the Royal School of Cookery and found me assigned to a special detail that aided in the construction of the cake for the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer."

In an e-mail to the Times, Avery wrote: "Robert Irvine may have been a trainee student at the Royal Naval Cookery School whilst I was making the royal wedding cake. He most certainly was not involved with me in making or baking the cake. I did make two identical wedding cakes, just in case of accidents. The second cake I cut up and distributed to all the trainees in the Naval Cookery School. So, there is a possibility that he may have a piece of that one. It would only be about an inch-square finger of cake."

- The controversy was picked up by Chowhound.com, a site "for those who love to eat." Readers added their own Irvine tales.

The fates of Ooze and Schmooze are uncertain; Irvine's partner J. Randall Williams did not return calls. Former Bern's partner Jeannie Pierola said she visited the space on Monday, then called the Realtor to see if it is available.

Laura Reiley can be reached at lreiley@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2293. Times staff writers Ben Montgomery and Chris Sherman contributed to this report.

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by Sue	03/08/08 02:11 AM
Men and Women are dying in a war we shouldn't be fighting. Our vice-president accidently shoots someone. You're upset about someone lying on a resume, get a life. I enjoy watching him and will continue to watch him. Worry over the important issues.

by babo	03/07/08 11:41 PM
who cares what people say? his food was simply wretched, especially his rotting salmon rolls and crab cakes.

by Cody	03/06/08 03:00 AM
Despite his unfortunate (but smart) embellishment, He is still one of my favorite chefs and his accomplishments on "Dinner : Impossible" are ridiculous to say the least. If the food network can forgive a little fib, they should keep one of the best.

by Evelyn	03/04/08 10:04 PM
SHAME ON SOME OF YOU, HOW CAN YOU JUDGE YOU ARE BASING YOUR DECISION ON AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE WHO SAID THEY MADE A CAKE, HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY DID? WHO CARES WHO HE COOKED FOR OR DIDN'T COOK FOR? THE CHOWHOUND NEEDS TO FIND REAL NEWS TO REPORT.

by susie	03/04/08 03:56 PM
I spent a day with Robert and heard all of these tales . . . too bad he was thoroughly entertaining and the food he prepared was terrific.

by Jeannie	03/03/08 06:47 PM
I don't care what Chef Irvine has done or not done. I loved his show and would continue watching if Food Network keeps him on. He was the best thing they had going. Who cares about what he did, let's see what he can do. I forgive you Chef!

by MeMe	03/03/08 01:57 PM
He was a snob when I met him at a BMW dealership that I worked at.His words were, "don't you know who I am? I'm the Chef for the President of The United States!" His lies were being told 3 years ago in New Jersey, maybe even earlier. Goodnight Knight

by R	02/27/08 08:32 PM
I worked with Robert in Ac, NJ; he can back up his boasts about his talent. Remember, he is also a buisnessman and has to generate a buzz about himslef jusk like Donald Trump etc. He should come clean and his talents will keep him moving forward.

by jan	02/21/08 08:47 AM
PLEASE stop calling this woman a socialite and do your homework on her.

by Jim	02/19/08 01:25 PM
And what about the 'stellar' past of the La Torre family? Don't I remember the deaths of 4 teenagers.... It seems that there is always room for one more questionable character in our local scene.

by Barbara	02/19/08 12:05 PM
I was concerned that SP would ooze with too much shmooze. Jeannie Pierola would be a much better choice for a restaurant than some celebrity. We know Jeannie and love her food!

by Fla Ex-pat	02/19/08 10:33 AM
What is it about imposter chefs and the Tampa Bay area? I recall another restaurant, on armenia ave i think, duped by a would-be cordon bleu trained chef whose credentials turned out to be as solid as meringue...that was about ten years ago.

by Bobby	02/19/08 07:38 AM
Looks like Chef Robert may be a great cook, but he seriously burned his own reputation! Maybe a better term is "scorched"! Food Network loses all their credibility if they keep this charlatan on their network.

by Rob	02/19/08 07:24 AM
The St. Pete Times is rapidly becoming a tabloid newspaper, with "gotcha" journalism, not news, practised on the front page at least a couple times each week. How about going back to covering the news?

by caroline	02/19/08 07:22 AM
it would be astonishing to me that he or his "business partners" would think that continuing with the two resturants down here would be a good idea. give up the space to a company with a stellar reputation, who can actually help the area.

by VP	02/19/08 07:07 AM
If Jeannie Pierola puts a restaurant there it would be a MUCH bigger coup for St.Pete than Irvine.The thought of her creative genius at work HERE is VERY exciting!!

by jan	02/19/08 03:24 AM
I LOOOOOOVE the St. Pete Times. Nobody squeaks by you guys. hehehehe

by Chef B	02/19/08 03:06 AM
He, seems like the next fry cook at waffle house lie on resume to get investors is business fruad... they need chefs in prisons so send him to one

by BOB	02/19/08 03:04 AM
Cant Stand the heat Stay the kitchen , and this Chef's Goose is cooked if you lie ,to invstorsits called in business law Fraud ...and why Embellish something that is sure to be found out false ... Oh well,Ill take two over easy and toast and coffee.

Food world parses resume

Culinary circles buzz over revelations about a TV chef with plans for St. Petersburg.