Tag Archives | busted chef

Busted Chef Now Looking For Love

Gawker reports that Dan “Busted Chef” Kaufman is up to his old tricks yet again. Dubbed the “Montauk Grifter” by the tabloid site, Brooklyn Heights Blog readers know him well as the scoundrel who fleeced many residents with his 2008 identity theft scam based out of the Busy Chef and other Henry Street restaurants. Reporter [...]

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

Brooklyn Heights Busted Chef Reborn as The Montauk Grifter

We hate to say “we told you so,” but we told you so. The Notorious Busted Chef, Dan Kaufman, is up to his conning ways again. Gawker reports today that Kaufman was busted last month in Montauk by NYPD detectives: Read BHB’s original coverage of the Busted Chef saga now.

Read full story · Comments { 24 }

Sex, Lies, and the Busted Chef

“Awesome Slut”, whose eponymous site won the “best sex blog” award from the Village Voice this year, tells all in her confessional “the mistakes we make” about an affair with Daniel Kaufman a/k/a Daniel Kay a/k/a Daniel Katze a/k/a the Busted Chef, whose true identity she discovered through a Google link to BHB. Caveat: the [...]

Read full story · Comments { 6 }

Busy Chef Given Probation

We hadn’t seen any information about the ongoing Busy Chef/Dan Kaufman case recently so we reached out to the Kings County District Attorney’s office. We learned that Kaufman plead guilty on December 2 to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. On February 8 he was sentenced to five years probation.

Read full story · Comments { 11 }

“Busy Chef” Kaufman Goes to Trial July 23

Infamous “Busted Chef” Daniel Kaufman pleaded not guilty to two felony charges in a Manhattan court yesterday, stemming from an incident last December when he allegedly stole his friend’s credit card. Kaufman was arraigned on charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, and released on his own recognizance. His trial is set [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Busted Again: The Busy Chef Never Rests!

BHB has discovered charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of a stolen credit card against “Busted Chef” Daniel Kaufman in Manhattan from earlier this year. According to the criminal complaint, Kaufman was arrested on Jan. 20 for an incident on Dec. 19 on the Upper East Side in which he allegedly stole a credit [...]

Read full story · Comments { 17 }

Checkers opens on Court Street

The fast-food joint Checkers opened on Tuesday at 111 Court St., in the former Busy Chef spot, bringing yet another hamburger option for Downtown Brooklynites. Franchise owner Shaista Siddiqui told BHB she’s excited “to become part of this community.” The restaurant serves burgers, bacon-wrapped burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, and delicious spicy fries. And, the [...]

Read full story · Comments { 6 }

Text of Alan Young’s disbarment

The full text of the disbarment of attorney Alan Young — who was a part-owner in the Busy Chef empire and scandal and listed on numerous  liquor licenses — is available online here. Judges at the state’s appellate court, the Second Judicial Department, ruled on April 21 to accept Young’s resignation from the Brooklyn bar. [...]

Read full story · Comments { 1 }

Alan Young, Attorney and Busy Chef Partner Disbarred

The Brooklyn Eagle reports that Alan Young, former Busy Chef, Oven, Wine Bar at 50 Henry and Blue Pig owner (as well as other businesses at those Henry Street addresses) has been disbarred.  The eateries were shuttered last year after manager Dan Kaufman was busted on charges of credit card fraud and identity theft.  The [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Sidewalk seating at Heights Wine Bar

First restaurateurs Mark Lahm and Jim Montemarano brought back the wine bar at 50 Henry St., and now they’re applying for sidewalk seating! The new Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar filed the sidewalk café application with Community Board 2’s transportation committee this month, and will present its plans at the committee’s meeting on June 16. Lahm [...]

Read full story · Comments { 1 }

Checkers Readies Court Street Store

The Checkers burger chain is hard at work preparing its new Downtown Brooklyn location.   The outlet will occupy the former Busy Chef space at 111 Court Street. [photo via McBrooklyn]

Read full story · Comments { 5 }

Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar to open in 3 weeks!

The owners of the new Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar were out this morning putting final touches on their new space at 50 Henry St., and owner Mark Lahm said the spot will be open within the next three weeks. “We wished we could have opened earlier, but there were things out of our control,” Lahm [...]

Read full story · Comments { 7 }

Busy Chef Space on Henry Now a Free Agent

Looks like eviction proceedings against the many faces of the Busy Chef Empire were successful as this NYC Marshall’s notice posted at 60 Henry Street indicates.  No official word yet on whether bakery Sweet Melissa will take over the space.

Read full story · Comments { 6 }

This Just In: Checkers Moving Into Busy Chef’s Court

Local blog Flappy Days reports that the Checkers burger chain will be moving into the former Busy Chef Space at 111 Court Street: Flappy Days: As I was walking to work this morning, the door was open and two men were looking over plans, so I asked them what was coming in. Ladies and gentlemen, [...]

Read full story · Comments { 41 }

Busy Chef evicted at Henry St. corner

Eviction notices went up today at the former Busy Chef spot at 60 Henry St., at the corner of Cranberry Street. The four signs are addressed to “John or Jane Doe” and several shell names that the partners behind the Busy Chef empire have long used, including The Busy Chef Oven, Julia’s Blue Pig, Rue [...]

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

Sweet news! New Sweet Melissa’s in Busy Chef Spot on Henry?

Sweet Melissa’s Patisserie may be moving into the neighborhood by early summer — and taking over the former Busy Chef and Blue Pig spots at 60 Henry St. Owner Melissa Murphy told the Brooklyn Heights Blog today that she’s always wanted to open in Brooklyn Heights, and that she’s had her eye on that corner [...]

Read full story · Comments { 31 }

Busier chef! The Court Street site is rented!

The former Busy Chef hotspot at 111 Court St. has been rented to a new tenant, and looks like someone might be moving in shortly. Renovation and construction work has started, and building permits were issued on March 16. But building owner Abe Gerges — who is also the King County acting administrative judge — [...]

Read full story · Comments { 4 }

Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar to (maybe) open in April!

Construction is moving full-steam ahead at the future Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar at 50 Henry St., and owner Mark Lahm said he’s pushing for an April 1 opening date. The Department of Buildings still has to make final approvals, Lahm said, but he is in the space each day, creating the wine and tapas menu, [...]

Read full story · Comments { 6 }

Busted Chef Case Still Pending

Former manager of the Busy Chef restaurants on Henry Street, Daniel “Busted Chef”Kaufman, is awaiting a trial date for 24 counts of alleged fraud after appearing in Kings County Criminal Court on Dec. 26, 2008. Kaufman, who faces seven years in jail after allegedly stealing approximately $25,000 from former customers’ credit cards, is undergoing a [...]

Read full story · Comments { 24 }

Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar’s Liquor License Up for CB2 Review

The new joint venture between Henry’s End and Cranberry’s located at the space formerly known as the Wine Bar at 50 Henry Street will be called Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar.  The new owners will be pitching their case for a liquor license at this Wednesday’s (1/7) CB2 meeting according a public notice posted in its [...]

Read full story · Comments { 13 }

Busted Chef, 89 Others on B’Paper’s 2009 Watch List

Hot on the heels of the BHB Ten, the Brooklyn Paper has named its 90 to Watch in ’09.  Coming in at number 2 is Brooklyn Heights’ own Dan “Busted Chef” Kaufman: Brooklyn Paper: 90 to Watch…: 2. Dan Kaufman: The co-owner of the Busy Chef restaurants, who was arrested last year on charges of [...]

Read full story · Comments { 4 }

50 Henry Will Continue as Wine Bar from Owners of Henry’s End and Cranberry’s

BHB has confirmation that the space at 50 Henry Street will be a joint venture from the owners of Henry’s End (44 Henry Street) and Cranberry’s (48 Henry Street). The space will continue as a wine bar, and will also serve breakfast and lunch according to Mark Lahm at Henry’s End. The new place will [...]

Read full story · Comments { 22 }

New Life at Wine Bar

The bright yellow exterior of the storefront at 50 Henry Street is now a more subdued shade of cranberry. According to workers at site formerly known at the Wine Bar at 50 Henry Street, an “American restaurant” will be opening there soon. The wine bar and its sister stores Busy Chef, Blue Pig and Oven [...]

Read full story · Comments { 8 }

Busted Chef Case Still Going

Dan “Busted Chef” Kaufman’s next day in court will be December 26, 2008 as determined at his last court appearance on October 15, according to Kings County Criminal Court records.  Contrary to erroneous reports on the Internets, no decision or plea have been recorded.

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

Action at Busy Chef

As BHB Community member “Yo” pointed out yesterday, there’s something going on at the site formerly known as Busy Chef at 60 Henry Street.   There also seems to be activity at the old Wine Bar space at 50 Henry Street.  BHB regular nabeguy commented yesterday, “I also saw the activity in the Wine Bar space. [...]

Read full story · Comments { 14 }

Chef of the Flies

“CS” sends in this photo, commenting: I was just walking past Busy Chef  on Court Street and there were dozens of flies on the inside of the windows.  Seems like they might have closed up in a rush.  Wouldn’t be surprised if they left food behind and there were thousands of flies in there… The [...]

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

Former Busy Chef Employee: Alex

If you’re looking to hire a barista, look no further than former Busy Chef employee Alex. Any interested employers should contact BHB (webmaster AT brooklynheightsblog.com) and we’ll put you in contact with him. Here’s his resume:

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Busted Chef’s Apartment Ransacked

The Brooklyn Paper reports that “Busted Chef” Dan Kaufman’s Pierrepont Street apartment – which the paper writes he rents from Busy Chef owner Alan Young – had its locks changed and was ransacked this week.  The paper’s calls to Young for comment went unanswered: Brooklyn Paper: Busted Chef…: For the record, Brill said his client [...]

Read full story · Comments { 43 }

Attention Former Busy Chef, Oven, Blue Pig and Wine Bar Employees

Being unemployed totally sucks.  Since my early career was spent in the wonderful world of radio, I may know just a little too much about being “on the beach”.  So when I got word here at BHB about the 50 folks who lost their jobs due to the “Busted Chef” scandal,  I just couldn’t sit [...]

Read full story · Comments { 11 }

NY Times on the Busted Chef

Today the NY Times writes about the Busted Chef drama: New York Times: Charges and Closed Shops Rattle..: Yet while the new establishments drew sizable crowds and seemed to have a promising future, there were disturbing rumblings about Mr. Kaufman. More than a year ago, commenters on the Brooklyn Heights Blog accused him of financial [...]

Read full story · Comments { 18 }