No (more) reservations

Tuesday, Jan. 29 — Celebrity chef, public speaker, bestselling author — however you know Anthony Bourdain, a select few Lansing-area residents will get to meet him this spring. Bourdain’s Guts and Glory Tour, a recounting of his experiences in the culinary world, comes to the Wharton Center on May 7. And after the one-night stop in East Lansing, Bourdain will attend a private reception at the new eclectic restaurant Red Haven where 150 VIP ticket holders will get to take pictures with him and get his autograph.

“We are very excited about this,” said Red Haven owner/operator Nina Santucci. “I’ve been a big fan of his for 10 years. For us to have someone of that caliber — an icon of the business — is surreal.”

Santucci said the production team of Guts and Glory Tour reached out to her in November, one month after the Okemos restaurant opened. She said executive chef/co-owner Anthony Maiale and the sous chef Brian Morden will work to create some specialty dishes, but the exact menu will be determined much closer to the event because of the farm-to-table style of the restaurant. 

The VIP packages, which sold out quickly, were $150 each and included premier seating, a limited edition tour poster and admittance to the post-show meet-and-greet at Red Haven. Santucci said that by May, the restaurant’s patio will be open, allowing folks to nosh on the complimentary buffet and sip drinks while they wait to stand in line for Bourdain, who will be sitting behind a table.

“I have to admit, it’s also a little nerve wracking,” Santucci said. “If he doesn’t like our food, he’s definitely going to tell us.”

City Pulse is the media sponsor of Bourdain's appearance in Lansing.