For the past year, it’s looked like British chef Gordon Ramsay was going to take over the vacated Maestro space at the Tysons Corner Ritz-Carlton. Yesterday, however, Washington City Paper’s Tim Carman backed up the other set of rumors we’ve been hearing for months: Michel Richard of Georgetown’s renowned Citronelle is planning to open a new restaurant in and "shift his 'home' base" to the suburban hotel, the former home of Fabio Trabocchi’s kitchen. Although Citronelle publicist Mel Davis denied the rumors, the Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema coaxed a “maybe” out of the French chef. And in his weekly chat, our Todd Kliman says: "I've got a guy who's got copies of the floor plans for the space and a draft of the partnership structure for the new venture."
Who would you rather see inherit the former Maestro space? Ramsay, famous for his volatile personality on Hell’s Kitchen, or Richard, famous for his whimsical French cuisine? Or another chef entirely? Let us know in the comments!