Rocco Barred from Reality TV Restaurant

By JULIETTE ROSSANT According to The New York Times, a New York civil court Tuesday awarded control of Rocco DiSpirito's Reality TV restaurant to partner Jeffrey Chodorow, after two days of hearings. Justice Ira Gammerman also issued a restraining order: Rocco is now barred from entering Rocco's on 22nd (still listed as of today, July 29, on his website). As the NYT noted, "The order issued yesterday, while not settling the issue of ownership, seems to suggest that Mr. DiSpirito is not a majority owner or even an equal partner at the establishment." The Reality TV show The Restaurant was a bust; now Rocco is busted from entering his own restaurant, except virtually. Of course, the question of reality runs even deeper. It seems that Rocco never finalized the 50/50 ownership deal he had envisioned with Chodorow -- too busy with his Reality TV show to clinch that part of the deal. Looks like real, hard copy won out over virtual intention. Or, perhaps, more simply, Rocco needed to slow down and dot his i's and cross his t's rather than buzz around at the hectic pace he was keeping. Sobering -- particularly if Chodorow moves on from this pre-trial ruling to trial with the argument that Rocco is in breach of contract by failing to provide food and service of sufficient quality -- harsh words to heap on any chef. By the way, Mama DiSpirito is welcome to continue working there.