1/22/2008 Update: I received a press release about this, see it below.

It's been just about eight weeks since Philippe Schmit's Bistro Moderne changed hands, and he is now ready to dive into his next project. I learned today that he will join Legacy Restaurants, a Houston-based company.

Legacy Restaurants owns Antone's, which is being converted to a new Antone's Market concept.

And they also own the Original Ninfa's on Navigation Boulevard.

On December 12th, Chris Harter, president and chief executive officer for Legacy Restaurants, let me know that they have several new concepts in the works and expect a substantial amount of new openings over the next year or two.

Today Harter let me know that Schmit had joined their company. Schmit's "role will evolve but basically he will be making sure that everything Legacy does is first class," said Harter. They have several new projects in which Schmit will be intricately involved and they are actively searching for a location for a Philippe Schmit signature restaurant. (Whoo-Hoo!)

Note of commentary: In culinary terms, this is a rather unconventional relationship move for Schmit. I am reminded of another top-level, high profile, fine dining, celebrity Houston chef who formed a relationship with a mostly non-fine dining group with promises of his own signature restaurant in the future. When he found himself cooking Tex-Mex in a trailer, he hit the road - quickly. This happened a few years ago and it all turned out OK for this chef. He is doing superbly now. Now I'm not drawing any comparisons, I was just reminded of this story. 

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Here is the press release & photo I received on 1/22/2008 about this:

Renowned Chef Joins Legacy Restaurants
Philippe Schmit Designated as Executive Chef and Culinary Director

Photo: Julie Soefer

HOUSTON (Jan. 22, 2008) – Today, Legacy Restaurants announced that Chef Philippe Schmit, formerly of Bistro Moderne, has joined the Houston-based restaurant operator as its Executive Chef and Culinary Director. Schmit, one of Houston’s most popular and highly regarded culinary talents will develop and manage special projects for Legacy, including a new catering division and his own signature concept restaurant in Houston.

“Timing is everything,” says Chris Harter, CEO of Legacy Restaurants. “When we heard Bistro Moderne had to close, we saw the opportunity to recruit a real star with great international and local experience. Philippe is perfect because he has the knowledge and dedication to help us meet our goals.”

Legacy Restaurants operates the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation in Houston, Ninfa’s Catering and Antone’s Market. The company is in the process of remodeling and restoring Ninfa’s on Navigation to pre-eminence. “Last year we hired another great chef, Alex Padilla, and with the addition of Philippe we are on our way to making a wonderful destination restaurant.” added Harter. “Legacy also is taking Antone’s Market back to its gourmet roots and recreating its new menu and adding an artisan bakery. We have other projects on the drawing board in Houston as well as Aspen and Los Angeles.

Schmit was born and raised in Roanne, France, near Lyon. Inspired by his mother and cousin, Schmit decided at the age of 14 that he wanted to cook for a living. "It might sound like a cliché", he admits, "but I love food, and I thought that becoming a chef would allow me to travel, to see more of the world. I’m delighted that food has brought me to Houston."

Chef Schmit trained at three of Paris´ most respected Michelin 2 Star restaurants, and in 1990, he left Paris for New York to begin his American career as Sous Chef of the world famous Le Bernardin. Schmit went on to serve as Chef de Cuisine of Park Bistro, and in 1994 he became Executive Chef at the ever-popular New York brasserie La Goulue.

In 2000, he took the New York restaurant scene by storm as the Executive Chef of Orsay, still one of the most popular restaurants in Manhattan. Schmit traded one big city for another in 2004 and moved to Houston to become Executive Chef of Bistro Moderne, a modern French bistro operated by Hotel Derek. It quickly became one of the City’s top-rated restaurants before the Hotel Derek’s was sold to new owners.