Christopher Lee's New Pulled-Meat Food Truck, Seafood Concept

Yesterday chef Christopher Lee talked with the Buzz about leaving Aureole and more. Today, he talks about the status of his future projects, including a food truck in NYC, his new seafood concept and more.

ZB: How will you be spending the next few months?

CL: I have Eden down in Miami, which is a very important restaurant to me. I think it's a great concept down here in a great city. So of course I'm going to be spending a little more time down here making sure this brand expands because we have aspirations to move Eden all over the country. Right now we're looking at sites in Colorado, Vegas and New York.

There are other things I'm doing in New York. I'm opening up a gastropub in my hometown, Huntington – that’ll be coming probably early spring 2011. I’m going to be doing a lunch truck in Manhattan itself – as soon as we get the permit, we’re ready to go. We’re 100% funded and we bought all the domains and websites, and the truck is being built as we speak. We’re just waiting on the permit.

ZB: Can you share what type of food it’s going to be?

CL: It’s going to be pulled meats, all kinds of meat. We’re going to have a vegetarian option too, but it’s going to be a riff on barbecue around the world. Everything is going to be stewed and have great textures – everyone loves a hot meat sandwich.

ZB: When will it launch?

CL: That will launch hopefully in the spring as well. I wanted to do it in February, but I’m pushing it back to a warmer month.

ZB: Can you share anything about your other concepts at the moment?

CL: I’m working on a seafood concept I’m going to be doing in New York, Philadelphia and DC. Right now I’m in the middle of negotiating some leases and securing the funding, so if all goes well, the first one should roll out sometime at the end of 2011 or the spring of 2012. We’ll see.

I’m also still overseeing the entire OCC [Orange County Choppers] food and beverage concepts. There’s going to be a giant roll-out with that brand in 2012 as well. Miami, New York and Las Vegas are the first three locations we’re going to do.

ZB: You say that you haven’t proven you can open up a business, but it certainly sounds like you’re taking a mean stab at it next year.

CL: I’m not really holding back. When I have my mind set on something I aggressively go for it. I don’t enjoy taking too much time off, I kind of feel lost. Work motivates me, keeps me young [laughs].

– Jacqueline Wasilczyk