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Where Do Manhattan’s Celebrity Chefs Go When the (Professional) Kitchen Closes?

Some choose to live near where they work—or at least an easy commute there

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From top to bottom, left to right: Laurent Tourondel, entrance at 70 Charlton; One of the two kitchen designs offered at 70 Charlton; Charlie Palmer.

Composite: Robert Zuckerman/Extell Development/Paige Green Photo
From top to bottom, left to right: Laurent Tourondel, entrance at 70 Charlton; One of the two kitchen designs offered at 70 Charlton; Charlie Palmer.
Composite: Robert Zuckerman/Extell Development/Paige Green Photo

It’s no surprise that Charlie Palmer, a celebrity chef and restaurateur, doesn’t cook often at home. But when he was shopping for a new apartment in New York last year, he found himself instinctively focusing on the floor plans’ kitchen and dining areas.

"I like open layout in the kitchen/dining area for entertaining and social gathering. Of course, high-end appliances are also important," said Mr. Palmer, a former chairman of the board of Culinary Institute of America who runs several restaurants and wine stores throughout the U.S.

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It didn’t take long for Mr. Palmer to find his dream pad. In fact, 70 Charlton, a brand new luxury condominium nestled between Soho, Tribeca and the West Village, offers exactly what he was seeking. On top of that, it’ll be an easy commute to his restaurant, Aureole near Bryant Park. The closings at 70 Charlton began in February; Mr. Palmer said he planned to move in this May.

Like Mr. Palmer, many top chefs in the city choose to reside close to their restaurants, or even in the same buildings. It makes sense, of course, when you consider how many late hours they spend at work.

In February, the Food Network’s "Iron Chef" Marc Forgione bought an apartment on Tenth Avenue in Chelsea for $2 million. The new dwelling, one of only two units in the building, isn’t far from his eponymous farm-to-table restaurant in Tribeca and "his office" in Chelsea Market, where the "Iron Chef" cooking competitions are filmed.

World-renowned French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten lives in an apartment in one of the three Richard Meier-designed steel-and-glass towers in Greenwich Village, according to The Wall Street Journal. His restaurant, Perry St, is located right downstairs and provides service to residents in the building and its neighboring condos.

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The internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Laurent Tourondel is a big fan of the ever-changing NoMad neighborhood, which encompasses the blocks between Lexington and Sixth avenues. and 25th and 30th streets. Both of his New York City restaurants, L'Amico and The Vine, are located in the neighborhood.

"The NoMad neighborhood has changed and really developed its own identity over the years, with new developments and restaurants constantly opening," said Mr. Tourondel, who also owns restaurants in Miami, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico and Kazakhstan.

Just last summer, he bought an apartment on W. 29th Street, a co-op building built in 1924 that is across from his restaurants. The apartment has an industrial feel, with original iron windows, 11-foot ceilings and views of the Empire State building, according to Mr. Tourondel.

"The building has a lot of original details that add character to the apartment,  such as the original iron letter box and mailbox shaft," he added.

Though Mr. Palmer’s namesake steakhouse in New York isn’t in the same building as his new residence, he is currently in talks with Extell Development, the developer of 70 Charlton, to bring his dining and wine tasting service to the building.

"The building has a residents’ lounge with catering kitchen and a landscaped courtyard," he said."I will be able to use those venues for entertaining residents and guests."