Tourondel Splits from BLT Partner

After working together for six years, chef Laurent Tourondel—the man behind the wildly successful BLT restaurants—and his business partner Jimmy Haber have split. According to The New York Times, Haber will control BLT Steak in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, and also BLT Fish, BLT Prime, and BLT Burger in New York, with the agreement that any restaurants he opens in the future will not be named or branded BLT. Tourondel will remain the executive chef for 10 BLT restaurants and retain the right to use the BLT name (“Bistro Laurent Tourondel”) in any future projects. “It’s a win-win for both of us,” Haber said. “It allows him to pursue opportunities that he couldn’t do in our present structure.” Tourandel agreed: “The split was my decision,” he said.