Jared Simons and the gastroclub

I caught up with 30-year-old chef Jared Simons last night in his kitchen whites at the trendy new Hollywood club Bardot. In late September, Simons closed his well-liked restaurant Violet, which he opened in 2004, to helm Bardot's kitchen. Having barely squeaked past a line and an intimidating doorman myself, I asked Simons if he was concerned that his food would no longer be accessible to the general public. Getting into Bardot is not something any old Joe the Plumber can do, not as long as the place remains on speed dial for Hollywood royalty, but Simons said that if people make dinner reservations they'll be able to sample the small plates on his "Promiscuous Dining" menu.

"You've heard of a gastropub," Simons said. "Well I want to create a gastroclub."

If anyone can accomplish the feat of making young, rail-thin party people actually want to be seen eating food while inside a club, maybe Simons can. With his liberal sprinkling of tattoos, choppy black hair and rock 'n' roll good looks, Simons fits the super-cool nocturnal chef mold. Now it's up to the rest of us to figure out how to look sexy while eating braised beef brisket with white chocolate and shiitake mushrooms.

Bardot, 1737 N. Vine St., Hollywood; (323) 462-1307.

— Jessica Gelt 

Photo credit: Jared Simons' MySpace page