OBITS: Chez Jay's Jay Fiondella---former actor, man about town, hot-air balloonist, treasure hunter, and Cosmoplitan's "Bachelor of the Month" in 1970---died Thursday after a long bout with Parkinson's Disease. He was 82. According to Variety, Fiondella opened Santa Monica's Chez Jay in 1959, which has been a hot spot for celebs like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. The restaurant is "known for its stiff drinks, potatoes au gratin with bananas, and for the historic 'Astro-nut'---a peanut which astronaut Alan Shepherd took to the moon and back," and for being just a great, local, old-school watering hole. A memorial celebration will be held at Chez Jay on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2-5 p.m. To RSVP, call (310) 395 -1741. [Variety, photo from Eating L.A]
Share this story
The Latest
Filed under:
A Dynamic New Thai Night Market Lights Up Chinatown This Weekend
The Damnoen Saduak night market debuts on Friday, March 29 in the Lax-C parking lot north of Downtown LA
By
Kat Thompson
5 Under-the-Radar New Restaurants to Check Out in Los Angeles Right Now
Taiwanese comforts in Temple City, an exquisite omakase in the old Mori Sushi space, and more
Filed under:
Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: March 25
Follow Eater editors as they share their favorite dishes they ate in LA
By
Eater Staff