Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Restaurateurs To Open Unique Asian Bistro Concept

Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Restaurateurs To Open Unique Asian Bistro Concept

Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro to Offer Japanese Cuisine as well as Dishes from Four Culinary Regions of China

10 Restaurants Set to Open Nationally by 2007

GREENWICH, Conn., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Chef Masaharu Morimoto, star of the Food Network's "Iron Chef," and owner of the chic Morimoto Restaurant in Philadelphia has teamed with successful entrepreneurs and restaurateurs Paul Ardaji Sr. and Paul Ardaji Jr. to create a different type of Asian Bistro concept. The joint effort is Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro, a unique casual dining experience for people seeking authentic, contemporary Asian cuisine. The first Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro is slated for an October opening at Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Virginia.

Under the culinary direction of Chef Morimoto, Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro will provide customers with an innovative, diverse menu consisting of quality food at moderate prices. Chinese dishes represent the four culinary regions of China; Sichiuan, Hunan, Mongolian, and Canton, while the Japanese cuisine consists of sushi rolls, authentic Japanese Grill, Robata Yaki, and Chef Morimoto specialties. Pauli Moto's also will feature an array of specialty drinks, a large selection of cold and hot sake and Morimoto's own line of beer and sake.

"We wanted to create a unique, flavorful menu that captures the best of Asian cuisine," said Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Culinary Director for Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro. "The Pauli Moto's concept provides a wide selection of mainstream dishes and specialties I've worked hard to develop for the restaurant. Pauli Moto's represents quality and authenticity, and I look forward to sharing our vision with everyone who dines with us."

Beginning with the Tysons Corner Center Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro, the company is continuing to seek prime properties to expand its new restaurant concept. Locations and tentative opening dates include:

* Tysons Corner Center, October 24, 2005, McLean, VA * Foxwoods Resort Casino, January, 2005 * Shops at Evergreen Walk, February, 2005, South Windsor, CT * Legacy Place April, 2006, Palm Beach Gardens, FL * Shops at Saucon Valley, Summer 2006, Saucon Valley, PA * Park Place, Fall 2006, Leawood, KS * G-Tech Center, Winter 2006, Providence, RI * Sand Lake Road, Winter 2006, Orlando, FL * The Collection at Vanderbilt Shoppes, Spring 2007, Naples, FL * The Domain, Summer 2007, Austin, TX

Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro will range from 6,000 to 8,000 square feet and seat approximately 175 to 250 patrons. The design is extraordinarily simple in form and hues to classic Asian architectural principals. Each restaurant will be a single rectangular volume with a dining room, kitchen, glass porch and wood entry trellis. The buildings will be clad in a completely translucent skin of polycarbonate and Ipe wood, making it the first building in the United States to be completely wrapped in polycarbonate. The translucent restaurant will glow in the evening and evoke the feeling of a Japanese Noguchi lantern.

Award-winning designer Jay Valgora of V Studio, a subsidiary of the WalkerGroup in New York is handling the interior and exterior design.

"American tastes have evolved, and with the rising popularity of creative and innovative Asian cuisine, there is a greater interest in understanding and appreciating new authentic culinary tastes," said Paul Ardaji Jr., President and COO of Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro LLC. "Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro will fill a void in the niche Asian category of moderately priced, sophisticated Chinese and Japanese cuisine," added Ardaji Jr.

Pauli Moto's can be found on the web at http://www.paulimotos.com/.

About Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro

Pauli Moto's is a contemporary Asian Bistro, with professional and friendly American hospitality, serving moderately priced popular dishes representing Chinese and Japanese cuisines created by culinary director, the highly acclaimed Masaharu Morimoto. Chinese dishes are from the four culinary regions of China; Sichiuan, Hunan, Mongolian, and Canton. Japanese offerings include exciting sushi rolls, Chef Morimoto specialties, and authentic Japanese charcoal grill, called Robata Yaki. Pauli Moto's will feature a vast array of specialty drinks and martinis and a large selection of cold and hot sake and offer Morimoto's own line of beer and sake.

About Chef Masaharu Morimoto

After eight years of culinary training and five years of restaurant ownership in Hiroshima, Chef Masaharu Morimoto settled in Manhattan and quickly distinguished himself by infusing European and Western cooking techniques and ingredients into his preparations. Morimoto has worked in some of New York City's most notable Japanese restaurants, including Sony Club and Nobu.

Since 1998, Chef Morimoto has been the star on the wildly popular television show, Iron Chef. In November of 2001 Morimoto opened his first US restaurant with his namesake.

About Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro LLC

Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro LLC was founded in 2005 by successful entrepreneurs and restaurateurs Paul Ardaji Sr. and Paul Ardaji Jr. along with culinary director Chef Morimoto. Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro has plans to be in 10 markets by 2007. Paul Ardaji Sr. has extensive background in marketing and advertising as owner, president and creative director of MEAMCO advertising agency for 16 years. Ardaji Sr. is also a Hollywood film producer, and is credited with producing "Ali." Paul Ardaji Jr. has extensive experience in the restaurant and hospitality field including General Manager of Morimoto's in Philadelphia and three years as an executive with P.F. Chang's. Paul Ardaji Sr. and Paul Ardaji Jr. are partners in Ardaji Restaurant Ventures, which owns and operates several upscale restaurants in Connecticut.

Source: Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro LLC

CONTACT: Frank Goldberg of Edelman for Pauli Moto's, +1-212-819-4826, frank.goldberg@edelman.com, or Paul Ardaji Jr., President, COO of Pauli Moto's, +1-203-987-4324, Pauljr@paulimotos.com

Web site: http://www.paulimotos.com/

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