Opening Party: Michael Jordan Restaurant
Fellow athletes and foodies turned out in droves for the opening of Jordan’s Chicago steakhouse.
October 12, 2011
In what looked like Oscar night in Hollywood, basketball fans and foodies alike filed onto the red carpet at the Intercontinental Hotel for the grand opening of Michael Jordan Steakhouse.
Jordan may have been born in Brooklyn and raised in North Carolina (where he played college basketball), but Chicago is the city where he made his mark on the world of sports. While at home in Chicago, Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA titles and even did a brief stint playing minor league baseball for the Chicago White Sox.
It is no wonder that Chicagoans are rallying once more for the star athlete and his new restaurant’s steakhouse fare, which, on opening night, included samples of tender lamb along with free-flowing wine, champagne and cocktails. Jamie Blyth, known for his turn on season one of ABC’s The Bachelorette, stated a sentiment shared by many, "I came here to see Michael Jordan. He's my idol."
A glance around the room revealed a who's who of Chicago sports. Former Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen, who was also on the Olympic Gold winning "dream team" with Jordan in ’92, came to wish his friend luck. (Pippen and his wife sat with Jordan and his model girlfriend Yvette Prieto all evening.) Hall of Fame football coach Marv Levy was also in attendance, along with J'Marcus Webb of the Chicago Bears. Trent Tucjer, who won the 1993 NBA Championship with Pippen and Jordan, also showed his support.
With room for 160 patrons, Michael Jordan Restaurant occupies a space on the second floor of the Magnificent Mile's Intercontinental Hotel and is comfortably decorated in red and black—the colors of the Chicago Bulls. Chef James O'Donell is in charge of perfecting the menu of dry-aged steaks, chops and seafood.
Considering that Chicago is home to a statue in his honor, it’s a bit ironic that Jordan first opened steakhouses in New York and Connecticut before introducing his brand to Chicago. But Jordan is well aware of the slight and more than acknowledged Chicago’s place in his heart during the restaurant’s ribbon cutting ceremony: "Since I came to this city in 1984, you've taken me in like I'm one of your own," said Jordan. 505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611, 312-321-8823; mjschicago.com.
