Brooklyn Heights Blog

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 to begin July 23. Read more »

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 card Read more »

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 case against Kaufman is still pending.

There has been no word on whether Young will be charged or is suspected of being involved in any wrong doing in the “Busted Chef” case.  However, the Eagle report says that he is  under investigation on another matter:

The Brooklyn Law School graduate submitted his resignation in November, acknowledging “his inability to successfully defend himself on the merits against any disciplinary charges which may be brought against him…,” according to the Appellate Division, Second Department opinion and order issued in April.

Young was being investigated by grievance committees in three separate New York judicial districts, including the Second Judicial District, for alleged “irregularities in his attorney escrow account.” The Appellate Division immediately accepted his resignation, ordered his disbarment, and demanded that he immediately surrender his attorney secure pass.

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 criminal investigation.

Kaufman, who managed former Brooklyn Heights establishments Wine Bar at 50 Henry, Busy Chef, Blue Pig Ice Cream, and Oven, was arrested in July 2008 for the alleged fraud, after which his businesses were shut down, causing dozens of workers to lose their jobs. After his arrest, Kaufman’s former partner and landlord Alan Young reportedly locked him out of his apartment. According to The Brooklyn Paper, some claim that Young was using Kaufman as a scapegoat for larger white-collar crimes.

Kaufman’s alleged fraud in Brooklyn was not the first time he has had financial troubles with restaurants. Prior to relocating to Brooklyn Heights, Kaufman owned the South Kitchen and Wine Bar in Boston. He opened the business back in 2005, and by 2006 its doors were closed. As the restaurant’s sales plummeted, Kaufman reportedly neglected to pay approximately $40,000 in rent to his former landlord, Michael Devlin. Read more »

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 swindling customers out of thousands by stealing their credit card numbers. But the fun is only beginning: This year, Kaufman’s trial will start — and his lawyer is saying that Kaufman is just a “patsy” for shadowy Brooklyn Heights restaurant partner Alan Young, whose eateries fold like origami. This is going to be the trial of the century!

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 were shut down earlier this year when manager Dan Kaufman was accused of credit card fraud and identity theft.  Kaufman’s latest court appearance was scheduled for last Friday (12/26).  No further information is available at this time.

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.

We’ve heard that some people on the Internets have mentioned a “rumor” started by “someone who posted a sign” at 60 Henry regarding a Hooters moving into that space.   First, let’s just all calm down and remember the whole “Cigar Bar” hoax of 2007 (and its lame follow up Penelope’s Playspace) at that same location.   Add to that the fact that Community Board 2 has not received notification for any establishment seeking to serve alcohol at 60 Henry.  Not to mention that there’s no LPC application asking to hang, say, a giant HOOTERS SIGN at that location.  We’ve contacted Hooters PR and are awaiting a response on this story as well.

However we are grateful this “rumor” gives us the license to use this awesome clip from South Park.

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. I presumed that the broker-type was Alan Young spinning his web, but may be wrong. When I asked the guy who’s been watching the places lately if something was moving in, the question was met with a blank stare.”

Busy Chef, the Wine Bar at 50 Henry and Oven were all shut down over the summer after one of its employees Dan Kaufman was arrested and charged with several counts including identity theft related to credit card fraud. The case is currently before a Brooklyn Grand Jury.

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 is innocent of the identity theft and credit card fraud charges, claiming instead that Kaufman was a scapegoat of larger crimes by Young and others.

The paper also steps up to the plate today and sheds light on Nasser “Nando” Ghorchian’s dealings with Alan Young and the Busy Chef related businesses.