Chef Anne Burrell Sued for Discrimination at Centro Vinoteca

Before she left West Village restaurant Centro Vinoteca to embrace her new life as a Food Network star, Anne Burrell spent her days toiling in the kitchen, making killer meatball sandwiches, pasta, and offensive insults about the female front-of-house staff, a lawsuit alleges. The suit, filed in March, accuses Burrell of repeatedly harassing employees with offensive slurs, and claims that after they complained to the restaurant's owners, they were terminated. A bartender says Burrell called her a "ho" and told her she had "saggy boobs," while others were constantly called whores by Burrell, who once allegedly told a waitress, "You must be tired today from f--king all night."

"The male employees were not treated in the same or similar manner and the plaintiffs were treated in this manner because of their sex," the lawsuit alleges. Owner Sasha Muniak, who entered Centro into bankruptcy proceedings last month, is named in the suit, which came to light via his wife's website "PX This." The whole pdf is being hosted by Grub Street, which notes that Centro allegedly accused one of the plaintiffs of faking an ovarian cyst when she was out sick to justify firing her. The restaurant is still open, but this just made us lose our appetites.

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By John Del Signore in Food on December 4, 2009 4:41 PM

Comments [rss]

dgeee

No, I wouldn't allow her to blow me.

Snoopy

All I want to know is did the woman in question really have saggy tits?

NannyState

after being milked dry by the Boss Woman.

Snoopy

Ok I give up. I think we should do an Abbot and Costello gig, or if you can sing maybe a Martin and Lewis duo. I will not sign a contract if you insist on doing a rehash of "On the Road" type of films. I found Bob Hope and Bing pathetic and not that witty or observant.

NannyState

But I'm really good with children just like Bing.

Snoopy

I always knew you were a caring parent. In regards to Gary Crosby's film career, I always admired his acting skills in "Adam 12," kind of like Charlton Heston meets the LAPD.

sidenote

This stuff happens all the time at restaurants - I mean, come on, it's just name calling. You work in the hospitality industry in New York City. Grow a pair and insult her back.

Mr Mel

I think its the heat in those kitchens.

Son of Spam

Flaking?

These chefs have the weirdest insults. That doesn't even make any sense.

Bort

Ugly girl slings insults pretty girls. Breaking news!

Stewart

Seems more like the reaction of a spurned teenage boy.

longacre

She's the second biggest FAIL in Food Network history, other than that Big Daddy guy who won Next Food Network Star. (He seems like a cool guy and his food looked awesome but he has zero TV watchability appeal.)