Chef Richard moved to Los Angeles in 1977 and opened his own patisserie shop Michel Richard to great praise on Robertson Blvd. He then traveled back and forth to France mostly dining, learning and cooking in three-star Michelin-rated restaurants. In 1987 he opened Citrus, where he found the flexibility to adapt French cuisine to the tastes of Southern California.

Citrus started Michel Richard’s culinary journey in the United States. Just after it opened Citrus was voted The Best Restaurant in the United States by Traveler’s magazine and then in 1988 he was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who” in American Food and Wine.  A year later he opened Citronelle, offering a menu similar to that of Citrus, only with a fine dining atmosphere and a view of the Pacific located in the Santa Barbara Inn Hotel.

He then went on to open Bistro M in San Francisco, and Citronelle in Baltimore and Philadelphia. In 1994, he opened Citronelle in The Latham Hotel in Washington DC. In 1998 he  moved from Los Angeles to Washington DC to devote full-time attention to Michel Richard Citronelle. But Chef Michel was destined to go to the west once again. Recently he has opened a large 24 hour restaurant at Ceasars Palace Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. It boasts an extensive bar menu and two Happy Hours in a 24 hour period.

My friend of many years, Michel Richard, has opened a restaurant in Los Angeles called Citrus at Social located on the site of the former Hollywood Athletic Club. He also owns Citronelle in Washington D.C. and a new casual-style operation called Central in Washington D.C. both of which are doing extremely well. He will not be moving to Los Angeles quite yet but will monitor the new restaurant by visiting himself or sending a chef monthly to check on the operation. . .

On Hollywood Blvd and Ivar Tod English’s new Latin-style restaurant Beso, helped out by heavy, publicity hype due to the involvement of investor Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives) is opening to lukewarm – to really “horrible” reviews.