Claude Troisgros: Riding de Rocco DiSpirito Star

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Last week, "The Restaurant" quietly died after Jeffrey Chodorow, financial backer of Rocco's on 22nd, received permission from a Manhattan judge to close out, as reported in Crain's New York Business yesterday. This week a new Brazilian-French concept was announced to replace it, headed by Chef Claude Troisgros, son of Chef Pierre Troisgros of France. Ironically, Claude debuted in New York a decade ago with C. T. Restaurant -- now closed and inhabited by Union Pacific, whose chef-partner is Rocco DiSpirito. It seems that Chodorow, however, is not twice shy -- just check out Troisgros' website for a French-Brazilian twist on the Rocco look and feel. Hope for Claude's sake that he looks and feels better than Rocco fared. Meanwhile, TV sightings of Rocco DiSpirito have run down to re-runs of Oprah, dating from the semi-glory days of The Restaurant. Even by last May, however, he demoted to appearing on Soap Talk on Disney's SOAPnet, a show which features celebrity interviews, fashion, music, and -- cooking, hosted by Lisa Rinna and Ty Treadway.