Keller clocks up the air miles as he opens new restaurant in New York

Thomas Keller, owner of the French Laundry restaurant in California's Napa Valley, plans to open his New York restaurant, Per Se, next February.

The restaurant, which is located in the new Time Warner Center in Manhattan's Columbus Circle, will seat 68 and will have two private dining rooms seating 20 and 40.

The cooking style will be contemporary American with French influences.

Keller will be the restaurant's executive chef and will travel from coast to coast, dividing his time between Per Se and the French Laundry.

Jonathan Benno, formerly of Craft restaurant in New York, will be chef de cuisine, while pastry chef Sebastien Rouxel will transfer to the new restaurant from the French Laundry.

In 1990 he became head chef at Checkers hotel in Los Angeles, and then in 1994 he bought the French Laundry, in Yountville. It has received numerous awards, and last year Keller was the first chef to receive the title of World Master of the Culinary Arts.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 27 November - 3 December 2003