The U.S. Outpost of the High-End Paris Eatery by Restaurateur Guillaume Guedj Hosted a Lavish VIP Bash
VIP guests at the Mr. T Los Angeles restaurant’s one year anniversary bash on September 23rd included Basketball Notables Rudy Gobert and Derek Fisher with wife Gloria Govan, Soccer Star Javier Hernández Balcázar (Chicharito) of LA Galaxy, Notable French Actor Omar Sy, Melora Hardin, Katie Cassidy, Actor and Director Danny A. Abeckaser, Foodgod, Lorenzo Antonucci, Oliver Trevena, Rob Weiss, Devaughn Nixon, Megan Heaton, Stephen Huszar, Diana Madison, Hilary Shor, Caroline D’Amore, Lorenza Izzo, Nichelle Hines, Larray, Sivan Gold, Nick Benson, Tyler Lawrence Gray, Director Jonathan Baker, Chelsea Lazkani, Candela Marquez, Jonatas Jacque S, Fabian Arnold, Grant Mellon, Lina Escao, Agnese Cabala, Caleb Castille, Nick Cordasco, Ted Skilla, Darren Weiss, Selena Norton, Derrial Christon, Hailee Keanna, Anna Vita, Chase Keith, Neiima Marin, Lola Manzini, Aitana Cardoso, Derek Warburton, Logan Noh, Dominique Defoe, Alyssa Bashford, George Satsidis, Oana Gregory, Emma Westbrook, Melissa Gold, DJ Earry Hall and DJ William Lifestyle plus a bevy of entertainment industry influencers that came out to support owner and creator Guillame Guedj and his wife Barbara Guedj for the exciting evening, and indulge in an evening of delicious modern French cuisine by Executive Chef Alisa Vannah, cocktails, wine and musical entertainment.
Partygoers at the anniversary bash of the popular high-end Paris-originated hotspot enjoyed a tasting of Mr. T’s top-level modern French cuisine through delicious passed canopies, paired with top-shelf French champagne, custom cocktails featuring El Cristiano Ultra Premium Tequila from their world-class mixologist, and a premium selection from Mr. T’s incredible wine collection which was relocated from his former two Michelin star restaurant in Paris, Passage 53.
Performances throughout the evening at the transformed venue, with the party inclusive of both their indoor dining room, cocktail bar, private room, custom booths, outdoor patio and lounge area, included a live jazz band performance and featured DJ sets by William Lifestyle and Earry Hall.
The concept of Mr. T was created by French restaurateur Guillaume Guedj. Mr T. offers French cuisine in a way Los Angeles has never seen before, authentic to the culture of Paris, with a delicious menu of offerings that have its patrons returning regularly to the familial spot. Located in the blossoming Sycamore Street neighborhood at 953 N Sycamore Street, just south of Santa Monica Blvd, of which Guillaume saw parallels to the Marais district of Paris where the original remains an in demand restaurant and cocktail destination. The restaurant concept was created with partner Chef Tsuyoshi Miyazaki, with a menu inspired by their worldly travels and late night French discoveries, reflective of classic French techniques with a modern twist. They brought street food to the table in an elegant and elevated interpretation, inviting diners on a culinary journey for the palette, and what they have denoted as “New French.”
Executive Chef Alisa Vannah has led the cuisine at the Los Angeles restaurant location since inception. In 2021, Guillaume invited Alisa to work with Chef Tsuyoshi Miyazaki at the original Mr. T in Paris, to prepare for the opening of Mr. T Los Angeles, where she oversees the kitchen as Executive Chef. Located in Los Angeles’ chic Sycamore neighborhood, Mr. T Los Angeles at the hand of Alisa, who served as sous chef previously at Republique for a total of 8+ years, with stints at Chi Spacca and Tsubaki, serves up globally-inspired dishes executed with flawless French technique.
More on Owner Guillaume Guedj
His first hospitality endeavor began in 2010, when he called on his friend, Japanese chef Shinichi Sato, to open a restaurant. His vision was to bring French cuisine into the 21st century, providing a fresh, contemporary take, with the famed Passage 53. The concept quickly became one of the most desirable dining rooms in Paris, earning 2 Michelin stars.
Guillaume’s time at Passage 53 took him to restaurants and vineyards in cities across the world where he was able to foster relationships with purveyors and fellow restaurateurs. During his travels and after many late nights spent discovering the street food of each region he found himself in, Guillaume began to wonder what a restaurant that drew on these experiences and global flavors could look like.
After 10 years at the helm of Passage 53, which was renowned as one of the top 100 restaurants in the world across various accolades, he decided to shift his focus to a new concept, the globally-inspired and French-rooted, Mr. T. Partnering with Chef Tsuyoshi Miyazaki, together, the pair developed a menu that drew on their travels and late-night discoveries but was prepared using classic French techniques. Upon opening in Paris’ Marais-district in 2017, the restaurant rapidly became a must-visit destination in the city. With Mr. T, Guillaume brought street food to the table and invited guests on a culinary journey for the palette exploring new flavors and unfamiliar cultures, establishing a cult following for their gastronomic street food interpretations.
Following the booming success of the Paris location, Guillaume sought out a US expansion of the concept in 2019, landing on Los Angeles’ blossoming Sycamore neighborhood due to the parallels he saw to the Marais. He relocated to Los Angeles to launch the restaurant, opening Mr. T Los Angeles’ doors in August 2022.
More on Chef Alisa Vannah
Chef Alisa Vannah was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where her culinary interest began at a young age making family meals like bao buns and Thai sausages with her mother. Her family’s cooking influenced her to pursue her passion and she landed her first job in the kitchen at a small Thai restaurant in North Hollywood.
From there Alisa went on to work at Nancy Silverton’s Chi Spacca in 2012 where she quickly discovered she was on the right track. Alisa was recruited by Republique’s renowned chef and owner, Chef Walter Manzke, to join their team just two months after the acclaimed French-inspired restaurant’s opening. There she sharpened her skills with each station and learned what it meant to be a successful chef.
In 2017 Alisa moved on to help open Echo Park-based Japanese izakaya restaurant, Tsubaki. Following a successful opening, she returned to Republique, as executive sous-chef for another three and a half years. When she was ready for a change, Republique’s Chef Walter Manzke connected her with Guillaume, creator, and owner of Mr. T..
In 2021, Guillaume invited Alisa to work with Chef Tsuyoshi Miyazaki at the original Mr. T in Paris, to prepare for the opening of Mr. T Los Angeles, where she now oversees the kitchen as executive chef. Located in Los Angeles’ chic Sycamore neighborhood, at Mr. T Los Angeles Alisa serves up globally-inspired dishes executed with flawless French technique.
