Latest news with #Konro
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
South Florida Michelin-star chef, formerly of 42 grams in Chicago, charged with second violent domestic assault
WEST PALM BEACH — A renowned Michelin-star chef based in South Florida with former ties to Chicago is charged with a brutal assault on a woman that left her in critical condition with bleeding in her brain. Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, a co-founder of Konro in West Palm Beach, had a well-known history of domestic violence. He had pleaded guilty in 2017 to attacking his ex-wife and business partner in Chicago, leading to widespread public backlash across the city and the closure of his Michelin-starred restaurant 42 Grams. But Bickelhaupt's career bounced back after his move to South Florida, where he earned another Michelin star and where, he told the Sun Sentinel in 2022, he was working on himself and making 'amends' for his past behavior. 42 grams chef battered his ex-wife. Now he has filed a $250,000 defamation lawsuit against the chef is charged with another violent domestic assault that left a woman in the intensive care unit in need of emergency surgery. He faces felony counts of aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability and battery causing bodily harm. The victim, who also worked with Bickelhaupt, had collapsed while having a seizure at a Palm Beach International airport ticket counter as she was trying to purchase a flight to Denver, Colo., according to a probable cause affidavit. Had she gotten on the flight, doctors later told her family, she would probably have died. 'They caught her in the nick of time,' her sister said. Paramedics rushed her to St. Mary's Medical Center, where she told Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies that she had been in a car accident. But medical staff told deputies that the woman's injuries were not consistent with a car accident. She had two blackened eyes, facial swelling, bruising from shoulders to wrists, and a subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery, according to the affidavit. Eventually, she gave a sworn statement to police, where she said that Bickelhaupt had attacked her for two hours as she tried to escape. The attack had begun when she approached him, asleep, on the couch in the early hours of the morning, trying to get him to come to bed, she said, according to the affidavit. They began to argue, and she went back to the bedroom. He followed her, then began to punch her in the face and kick her, causing her to fall to the floor. When she tried to crawl away, he continued to attack her. When West Palm Beach Police officers visited the victim's home later, they found blood splatter in multiple rooms, on bedding, walls, and furniture, according to the arrest report. When the attack was over, the victim managed to get a rideshare to the airport, where she planned to return to Denver, where she had grown up. At the hospital, the woman immediately identified Bickelhaupt as her attacker, but was unable to write her own name or sign the paper because of her 'physical condition rapidly deteriorating,' according to the affidavit. She required emergency surgery for the brain bleed and had an irregular heartbeat. Bickelhaupt was taken into custody the same day. He invoked his Miranda rights and requested his attorney when approached by police. Following a court appearance on June 3, Bickelhaupt was found indigent and granted a public defender. His bond was set at $90,000 along with a no-contact order with the victim, GPS monitoring, and a no-weapons order. He remained in the Palm Beach County jail as of Wednesday afternoon, according to inmate records. Bickelhaupt had initially gained fame with the Chicago-based restaurant 42 Grams, which earned two Michelin stars. Then, exactly eight years ago on June 4, 2017, he was charged with drunkenly attacking his ex-wife, Alexa Welsh, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground, then striking her with a glass bottle of sparking water. Her injuries required staples, according to Eater Chicago. 'Violence is a cycle. How does the saying go?' Welsh told the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday. ''Those who do not learn history …' I sent [the victim] a message of support. I hope she's able to make a full recovery.' Court documents reveal domestic violence past of 42 Grams chefBickelhaupt was arrested in the 2017 attack on a charge of domestic battery, which was then downgraded to simple battery, to which he pleaded guilty. He was released a month later. 'What I did was a very situational, passionate, alcoholic long story,' he told the Sun Sentinel for a profile in 2022. 'It was horrible, and it never should have happened, and what I did was 100 percent wrong. And that's why I'm trying to make amends to all that stuff. I'm going to live with what I did forever. I punish myself more than anyone else can punish me, I promise you that.' After the attack and the ensuing backlash, he moved to West Palm Beach in 2022 and co-founded Konro, which earned its own Michelin star in 2025. In response to questions about Bickelhaupt, Michelin said in a statement Wednesday that it 'firmly condemns all acts of violence, aggression and harassment, which violate fundamental human rights and severely impinge on the values of an entire profession. Since its inception in 1900, The MICHELIN Guide's purpose has been to provide consumers with dining recommendations enabling them to enjoy high-quality food and drink. Above all, the Guide recognizes collective achievement by awarding distinctions to restaurants rather than to chefs.' Asked whether Bickelhaupt would have his star for Konro removed, the organization said 'MICHELIN Stars are annual distinctions and therefore our Inspectors revisit the restaurants annually. At this time, Konro has been listed as temporarily closed on our website as we update all restaurants in real-time.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Michelin-rated chef arrested on domestic violence charges at West Palm Beach home
A renowned chef and the owner of the lone Michelin-starred restaurant in West Palm Beach is facing domestic battery charges after police alleged he assaulted a woman during an incident at his home. Jacob Bickelhaupt, the chef and owner of Konro restaurant, is facing one count each of domestic battery causing bodily harm and domestic battery following his arrest June 2 by West Palm Beach police. According to his arrest report, Bickelhaupt repeatedly punched and kicked the woman, leaving her with two black eyes, and with swelling and bruising on her face. The woman reportedly went to Palm Beach International Airport after the attack to try to buy a flight to her family's home but suffered a seizure at the ticket counter. She received emergency care at St. Mary's Medical Center. During a hearing June 3 at the Palm Beach County Jail, Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss ruled that Bickelhaupt, 41, is indigent and assigned a public defender to represent him. She set his bail at $90,000 and ordered that he be placed on in-house arrest with an ankle monitor if he is released. As a matter of policy, the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on active cases. After his arrest, Bickelhaupt requested to speak to an attorney and did not make other statements to investigators, his arrest report said. More: Dwyer student accused of torching classmate's car faces 2 more 'retaliation' arson charges The arrest marks the second time within the past decade Bickelhaupt has faced an allegation of domestic violence. In June 2017, Chicago police arrested him on charges that he assaulted a woman, throwing her to the ground and striking her in the head with a bottle, according to multiple published reports. He pleaded guilty to a charge of simple battery and was ordered to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing, complete a domestic violence program and pay fines. Shortly after the Chicago arrest, Bickelhaupt closed 42 Grams, his popular restaurant on Chicago's north side that at one time also earned Michelin-star status. In 2023, he opened Konro in West Palm Beach, on Park Place off South Dixie Highway near the Norton Museum of Art. It is a menu-free tasting restaurant with 10 counter seats and a steep, three-figure per person price tag for admission. In 2024, the Michelin Guide announced it would be rating Palm Beach County's restaurants, and in April, Konro was awarded a single Michelin star, making it the county's first and only restaurant to carry a star from the vaunted guide. According to Bickelhaupt's arrest report, his current accuser told investigators that he repeatedly attacked her over the span of two hours, even as she tried to leave the home. Once the attack stopped, the woman packed a bag and called for a ride to PBIA, where she collapsed, the arrest report said. Officers detained Bickelhaupt that night and took him to police headquarters for questioning. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Michelin-star chef arrested on domestic violence charges in West Palm
Time Out
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
8 London steak restaurants have been named in the 101 best in the world for 2025
Well, what do you know, it's that time of year again. No, not get-overly-excited-about-the-promise-of-a- mini-heatwave time, but the time when a shadowy meat body announces the latest edition of the 101 Best Steak Restaurants in the World. The 2025 list of the finest steakhouses known to humanity include eight joints in London, with the top rated London location named as Cut at 45 Park Lane in Mayfair, which has just made the top 10, scraping in at... number 10. The ranking praised the restaurant for offering 'a sophisticated and glamorous dining experience that stands out in the city's competitive culinary scene'. Of the steak, the ranking said: 'The steaks, sourced from the finest farms in the UK, the US, Japan and Australia, are the true stars here. Each cut is expertly cooked on a bespoke Konro grill to bring out the unique flavours and textures, with the 28 day dry-aged UK Ribeye or the A5 Japanese Wagyu from Kagoshima being a particular highlight for its rich marbling and deep, succulent taste.' And what about number one? That would be Parrilla Don Julio in Buenos Aires. The 8 London restaurants that feature in the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2025 Cut at 45 Park Lane (10) Dorian (27) Aragawa (28) Beast (41) Goodman (55) Lutyens Grill (74) Temper (76) Guinea Grill (97) Here's Time Out's own list of the best steaks in London.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
For first time in South Florida history, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach restaurants earn Michelin stars
In a culinary coup for Broward and Palm Beach county dining, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are officially gleaming in its first Michelin stars. The Florida Michelin Guide announced Thursday night that a pair of chef-tasting experiences, the Chef's Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale and Konro in West Palm Beach, have earned one Michelin star apiece. Both restaurants picked up their accolades during a ceremony at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at the Walt Disney World Resort. The news comes after the Michelin Guide in February said it would expand its esteemed guide to three new regions — Greater Fort Lauderdale, the Palm Beaches and St. Pete/Clearwater — making South Florida eateries from Hallandale Beach to Jupiter eligible to be saluted. And boy, did South Florida eateries turn up for the occasion: All told, five Fort Lauderdale restaurants picked up Michelin accolades, while Palm Beach County spots earned nine awards. The international director of the Michelin Guides, Gwendal Poullennec, for one, is bullish about the Sunshine State's restaurant supremacy. 'Florida has proven to be an international culinary destination with the expansion to three new cities,' he said in a statement. 'Our anonymous inspectors continued to be delighted by Florida's culinary community, and we congratulate all of the chefs and restaurants being honored in this year's selection.' The French tire company's guide first rolled into Miami, Orlando and Tampa in 2022 after the state's tourism arm, Visit Florida, paid $1.5 million to rate eateries in those regions for a printed guide. Michelin's expansion in South Florida came after Broward and Palm Beach's tourism groups, Visit Lauderdale and Discover the Palm Beaches, chipped in an extra $90,000 each to be part of the guide. The intimate, 14-seat Chef's Counter at MAASS at the Four Seasons Hotel And Residences Fort Lauderdale is chef Ryan Ratino's ode to American cuisine accented with French techniques. Guide 'inspectors' — Michelin's moniker for the diners who visit and critique each eatery anonymously — praised the tasting menu handled by chef David Brito, especially its 'single-seared diver scallop over a truffle puree.' 'Designed as an upmarket riff on chicken noodle soup, it's finished with a velvety broth,' the guide wrote. 'A delicate bowl of koshihikari rice cooked in a donabe with maitake mushroom and a Comté foam is excellent from start to finish. Finally, kakigori with candied nuts and fresh raspberries is a delightful conclusion.' At Konro, led by chef Jacob Bickelhaupt and sommelier Nadia Bickelhaupt, their 10-seat chef's counter presents a ballet of Japanese A5 Wagyu, dry-ice smoke, delicate bouquets of microgreens and other surprising morsels paired with wines. They serve drumstick-sized cones of crackling chicken skin, stuffed with foie gras and cloudberry jam, which the guide dubbed a 'highlight.' 'The chef's creativity is displayed in dishes like barley risotto with enoki mushrooms, caramelized crispy fried onions, and black truffle shavings, served in a golden egg,' the guide continued. In another first for Fort Lauderdale's Heritage, an Italian-American restaurant in Flagler Village fronted by (literal) rockstar chef Rino Cerbone, picked up the region's first Bib Gourmand, Michelin lingo for eateries that feature 'great food at a great value.' Not to be outdone, West Palm Beach restaurants Aioli, chef Michael Hackman's celebrated bakery-cafe, and Palm Beach Meats, owner Eric and Meghan San Pedro's fast-casual butcher-retailer-restaurant, also picked up Bib Gourmands. Statewide, 31 Florida restaurants currently have Michelin stars, with Miami leading the state with 15, followed by nine in Orlando, five in Tampa and two Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. No restaurants lost a star this year. Below, find the full lineup of South Florida Michelin winners broken down by county. Michelin stars: Chef's Counter at MAASS, Fort Lauderdale, 1 star Bib Gourmand: Heritage Fort Lauderdale Recommended: Daniel's, A Florida Steakhouse, Fort Lauderdale Larb Thai-Isan, Fort Lauderdale Evelyn's, Fort Lauderdale Michelin stars: Konro, 1 star Bib Gourmands: Aioli, West Palm Beach Palm Beach Meats, West Palm Beach Recommended: Buccan, Palm Beach Moody Tongue Sushi, West Palm Beach Nicholson Muir Distinguished Meats, Boynton Beach Stage Kitchen & Bar, Palm Beach Gardens The Butcher's Club, Palm Beach Gardens Coolinary and The Parched Pig, Palm Beach Gardens For the full list of Michelin winners statewide, go to Phillip Valys can be reached at pvalys@ or X @philvalys.
Miami Herald
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach restaurants earn Michelin stars for the first time
For the first time, restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach counties have earned Michelin stars. The Michelin Guide, which reviews and rates restaurants from around the world, announced in February that it was adding three more Florida cities to its guide this year: Fort Lauderdale, the Palm Beaches and St. Petersburg-Clearwater. It appears Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches were ready for it. Chef's Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale and Konro in West Palm Beach were announced as additions to the 2025 Michelin Guide at a ceremony Thursday at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at the Walt Disney World Resort. Both restaurants serve contemporary cuisine. Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, praised the growth of Florida's restaurant industry. 'Florida has proven to be an international culinary destination, with the expansion to three new cities and five restaurants being welcomed into the Michelin star family in this year's selection,' he said in a statement. 'Our anonymous inspectors continued to be delighted by Florida's culinary community.' MAASS, which is located in the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, offers 'a distinctive dining experience,' according to the internationally famous guide. 'Chef Ryan Ratino's tasting menu, in the hands of Chef David Brito, is a beautiful tribute to contemporary cooking with French techniques, Japanese ingredients and a few Florida highlights. Ingredients take center stage in courses like the single seared diver scallop over a truffle puree.' The guide went on to praise the restaurant's 'upmarket' riff on chicken noodle soup and koshihikari rice cooked in a Japanese clay pot with maitake mushroom and topped with Comte foam. Konro, helmed by Chef Jacob Bickelhaupt and his wife and sommelier Nadia Bickelhaupt, also makes use of the counter concept. 'Bold cooking takes center stage here, where an affinity for rich, umami-packed dishes surprises diners,' according to the guide. 'Meals begin with snacks; the foie gras mousse in a chicken-skin cone is a highlight. The chef's creativity is displayed in dishes like barley risotto with enoki mushrooms, caramelized crispy fried onions and black truffle shavings, served with a golden egg.' The guide also praises Konro's Binchotan grilled wagyu. Other newly starred restaurants in Florida No restaurants from the other newcomer to the guide, Clearwater/St Petersburg, earned stars this year, and neither did Tampa. But another South Florida spot did: Itamae Ao, a Nikkei-style Peruvian-Japanese spot in Miami, earned its first Michelin star. Chef Nando Chang is also a nominee for a 2025 James Beard Award in the Best Chef: South category. Two Orlando restaurants earned stars, too. Sorekara Japanese restaurant became Florida's second spot to earn two stars (the first is L'Atelier du Joël Robuchon, which got its stars in 2022). Ryan Ratino of MAASS, who earned two stars for his restaurant Jônt in Washington, D.C., also earned a star for Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park. Talk about a good year. In the 2025 Michelin guide, 31 Florida restaurants have stars. Miami leads the state with 15, while Orlando has nine. Tampa has earned five, and Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach have one apiece. No restaurants in the state lost a star. Other Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach honors Fort Lauderdale also gained its first ever Bib Gourmand, a designation for restaurants that serve great food at a great value: Heritage, from chef/owner Rino Cerbone. The restaurant is known for pizza and pastas. There were a couple of Palm Beach restaurants added to the Bib Gourmand list, too: aioli and Palm Beach Meats, both from West Palm Beach. Four Orlando restaurants were added, too: Banh Mi Boy, Coro, Smokemade Meats + Eats and UniGirl. Florida has 36 Bib Gourmand-designated restaurants. The two newly added areas also saw several local restaurants added to Michelin's Recommended lists. The Fort Lauderdale Recommended restaurants are Daniel's, A Florida Steakhouse; the Mediterranean spot Evelyn's at the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences; and Larb Thai-Isan. In Palm Beach County, the following were added to the list of Recommended spots: Nicholson Muir Distinguished Meats in Boynton Beach; Buccan, known for American cuisine in Palm Beach; The Butcher's Club at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens and Coolinary and the Parched Pig, also in Palm Beach Gardens; and Moody Tongue Sushi and Stage Kitchen & Bar in West Palm Beach.
