Michael Chow (restaurateur)

Michael Chow (simplified Chinese: 周英华; traditional Chinese: 周英華; pinyin: Zhōu Yīnghuá; born 7 March 1939) is a Chinese-born British-American restaurateur, interior designer and former actor.[1] He is the co-founder and owner of the Mr. Chow restaurant chain.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chow.
Michael Chow
Born (1939-03-07) 7 March 1939
Shanghai, China
OccupationRestaurateur, interior designer, actor
Years active1958–2009
Spouse(s)
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1968; div. 1969)​
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1972; div. 1989)​
        Eva Chun Chow
        ​
        ​
        (m. 1992; div. 2017)​
          Vanessa Rano
          ​
          ​
          (m. 2019)​
          Children4, including China Chow
          Parent(s)Zhou Xinfang
          Lilian Qiu
          RelativesTsai Chin (sister)

          Life and career

          Chow was born in Shanghai as Zhou Yinghua.[9] His father was Zhou Xinfang, one of China's most famous actors of his time and the leading figure at the Peking Opera. His sister is actress and erstwhile Bond girl Tsai Chin.[10]

          His mother came from a wealthy family whose fortune had been made in tea. He was sent to a British boarding school when he was 12 and spent his adolescence in Europe; after arriving in London in 1952, he was never able to speak to nor see his father again.[11] Chow studied art in London before embarking upon a business career in parallel to his acting.

          Before opening his eponymous restaurant chain, he and his business partner Robin Sutherland opened "Smith and Hawes", a hair salon in London's Sloane Avenue, which they later sold to the famous hairdresser Leonard of Grosvenor Square, when it became Leonard and Twiggy. They then opened the Mr. Chow restaurant. Michael Chow's concept was for a restaurant to offer Chinese food served by Italian waiters, and with a menu the British could understand.

          Chow has said his restaurants have always been underlined by "this desire and need to promote the Chinese culture", which he has done through food. He visits China at least twice a year, and has said he's thrilled by the country's economic growth and greater presence on the world stage. "China always has been a great, great nation", Chow said in an interview for The Wall Street Journal and added, "Chinese people — I like them. What can I say?"[12] His restaurants have been widely panned by food critics, but remain popular for decades due to their ability to attract celebrities with the allure of fancy dining and intentionally high prices.[9]

          Sutherland backed the original restaurant idea, raised the money and housed six chefs hired from Hong Kong. Chow designed the restaurant featuring cool green floor tiles and white walls, and it opened in Knightsbridge, London in February 1968, serving Pekinese cuisine. Mr. Chow was a hit and remains in business. Chow bought art by Allen Jones, Peter Blake, Patrick Caulfield, David Hockney and Jim Dine[13] for the walls, which became as celebrated as the food. The partners opened three other Mr. Chow restaurants in London before Michael Chow bought Sutherland out and moved to New York.

          From an early age he became an obsessive collector of furniture and contemporary art, notably his now, famous collection of portraits (of himself) by world-renowned artists. Since the sixties he has designed many architectural projects, including all of his restaurants, the Giorgio Armani boutiques in Beverly Hills and Las Vegas. His latest design is his home in Los Angeles.

          His restaurant chain has expanded to such places such as Las Vegas, Miami, New York City and Beverly Hills. Recently, Michael Chow has been appointed as one of the 12 member board of governors called "The Broad" for Eli and Edythe Broad's three story $130 million Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

          Personal life

          He has been married four times, first to Grace Coddington (1968–1969),[14] then to Tina Chow (1972–1989)[15][16] and third to Eva Chun Chow (1992–2017).[17] His first three marriages ended in divorce and he has been married to Vanessa Rano since February 9, 2019.[17]

          Michael Chow has four children: China Chow and Maximillian Chow with Tina Chow; Asia Chow with Eva Chun and Phoenix Chow with Vanessa Rano. Maximillian is the head of culinary operations at the family restaurants.[9]

          Filmography

          References
          1. "Michael Chow". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          2. Bruni, Frank (28 June 2006). "New Mr. Chow, Same Formula". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          3. Vesilind, Emili (12 February 2010). "L'Oreal hosts a luncheon with Diane Keaton at Mr. Chow's". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          4. Pettera, Angela (28 May 1998). "The Modern Mr. Chow". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          5. Moore, Booth (17 November 2010). "All The Rage: Crocodile love at Mr. Chow". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
          6. Hallock, Betty (15 July 2009). "Chow restaurant lawsuit: Too many Chows in the kitchen?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          7. Larocca, Amy (28 April 2006). "The Sayings of Chairman Chow". New York. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          8. Pellerin, Ananda (22 February 2018). "How Mr Chow became an art world mecca". CNN Style. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
          9. Gordinier, Jeff (31 August 2016). "Sky-High Prices? Bad Reviews? No Matter: Mr. Chow Powers On". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
          10. Johnson, G. Allen (18 March 2007). "Culture Blog!: A chat with Tsai Chin". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          11. Blasberg, Derek (16 February 2018). "Restaurateur Michael Chow and Mr. Chow Celebrate 50 Years at the Center of Art and Dining". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
          12. Kurutz, Steven (4 November 2004). "Mr. Chow Celebrates Its Thirtieth Anniversary with Brooke Shields, Hamish Bowles and Other Fashion Folk". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          13. "Getting the Picture". Finch's Quarterly Review. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
          14. "Grace Coddington: creative indeed". 1843. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
          15. "Ciao Tina". Maureen Orth. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
          16. "Michael Chow's empire". W Magazine | Women's Fashion & Celebrity News. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
          17. Stuart, Gwynedd (12 February 2019). "Inside Mr. Chow's Fabulously Over-the-Top Nuptials". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
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