Chef’s Restaurant Celebrates 90 Years

Chef’s Restaurant Celebrates 90 Years

Chef’s Restaurant, a fixture on Seneca Street in the City of Buffalo since 1923, celebrates 90 years. On September 11th, 2013 the celebration of those 90 years was done in style with what was billed as the world’s largest pasta dinner.

Owner’s Mary Beth and Lou Billittier Jr. were responsible for throwing the world’s biggest pasta dinner outside of Chef’s Restaurant using two huge tents that held over 900 hungry patrons.

Chef’s Restaurant has been a longtime spot for the movers and shakers of Buffalo as well as professional athletes, especially the Sabres. Many of those folks were on hand as huge bowls of rigatoni and salads were served at $10 a plate. Proceeds from the banquet went to the Wounded Warriors Project.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event was former WKBW-TV personality Dave Thomas who’s real name is David Boreanaz, father to television actor David Boreanaz of “Bones” fame. Dave, who did weather, hosted Rocketship 7 and Dialing for Dollars at Ch 7 was a long time friend of Lou Billittier Sr. Dave “Thomas” is also known as Dave “Roberts” in Philadelphia where he became the main weather anchor at WPVI in Philadelphia after leaving Buffalo in 1978.

Boreanaz was also one of the regulars at Chef’s Restaurant back in the 1960’s and 70’s along with fellow personalities Irv Weinstein, Rick Azar and Tom Jolls. In fact, Dave was credited for coming up with the idea for Chef’s iconic “spaghetti parm” while sitting at table #1 in the original restaurant.

A formal ceremony was held in the middle of the sit down, family style dinner and first featured a tribute to 9/11. Next came a walk down memory lane as a video featured some of the faces and moments that have made Chef’s more than just a restaurant to eat a meal. The finale was a massive confetti explosion, much to the delight of the hundreds of appreciative Chef’s regulars.

Caterer Manny Lezama created a podium sculpted out of ice as well as an ice sculpture of the trademark “Chef” and a five foot cake of the same iconic image.

The event that kicked off the 90th Anniversary celebration was a Media Meatball eating Contest won by Carl Russo of 97 Rock back in August.

 

 

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Tagged with: Chef's restaurant, Lou Billittier, Lou Billittier Jr., Mary Beth Billittier