A day after publication, this delicious scoop is still #1 most e-mailed on Tampabay.com:
Celebrity chef Robert Irvine blew into town two years ago with the panache of royalty, the ego of a TV star and a plan to turn St. Petersburg into "the next Monaco."
He was about to launch a show on the Food Network, Dinner: Impossible, and was writing a cookbook. Soon the muscle-bound Brit was downing oysters, clinking glasses and telling incredible tales.
He was a knight. He owned a castle in Scotland. He had cooked for presidents and royalty and was pals with Prince Charles.
Robert Irvine's magnum opus – side-by-side restaurants called Ooze and Schmooze – was supposed to redefine upscale dining.
The restau…
Keep reading with a membership
This story is for Gangrey members. Join to read it in full, unlock the archive, and support narrative nonfiction.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Sign in
Leave a comment