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In 1993 he opened his own first restaurant, Luna Sí, on [[Peachtree Street|Peachtree Road]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaupman |first1=Gary |title=Eat |url=https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn61311684/1993-05-20/ed-1/seq-25.pdf |access-date=February 15, 2024 |work=[[Southern Voice (newspaper)|Southern Voice]] |date=May 20, 1993 |pages=25-26}} ([https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn61311684/1993-05-20/ed-1/seq-26.pdf p. 26])</ref>
In 1993 he opened his own first restaurant, Luna Sí, on [[Peachtree Street|Peachtree Road]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaupman |first1=Gary |title=Eat |url=https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn61311684/1993-05-20/ed-1/seq-25.pdf |access-date=February 15, 2024 |work=[[Southern Voice (newspaper)|Southern Voice]] |date=May 20, 1993 |pages=25-26}} ([https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn61311684/1993-05-20/ed-1/seq-26.pdf p. 26])</ref>


He was a controversial figure on the Atlanta restaurant scene in the early 1990s, often critical of local trendiness and faddish tastes.<ref name="Dabble">{{cite web |last1=Eldredge |first1=Richard |title=Chef Paul Luna Returns to Dabble in Downtown Black Market Lunacy |url=https://press.fourseasons.com/atlanta/hotel-news/chef-paul-luna-and-park-75-s-chef-robert-gerstenecker-collaborate-to-cook-up-some-fun-in-atlanta/ |website=[[Atlanta (magazine)|Atlanta]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323115840/http://www.atlantamagazine.com/blogs/atlintel/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10078484 |archive-date=March 23, 2010 |format=blog |date=January 7, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He introduced European, Mediterranean, and South American cuisine through his restaurants Luna Sí, Eclipse di Luna (opened in 1997),<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKibben |first1=Beth |title=Restaurant Prepares to Spice Up Alpharetta Development With Paella, Sangria, and Salsa Dancing |url=https://atlanta.eater.com/2021/10/26/22746885/alpharetta-eclipse-di-luna-tapas-bar-salsa-dancing-opening-halcyon |website=[[Eater (website)|Eater]] |access-date=February 17, 2024 |date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> and Loca Luna, and was widely known as a "bad boy" who ruled his dining room impetuously, sometimes staging impromptu striptease dances to amuse and shock patrons.<ref name="mystique">{{cite web |last1=Bostock |first1=Cliff |title=The mystique of Paul Luna |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-174320-the-mystique-of-paul-luna |website=[[Creative Loafing]] |access-date=February 11, 2024 |date=May 8, 2002}}</ref>
He was a controversial figure on the Atlanta restaurant scene in the 1990s, often critical of local trendiness and faddish tastes.<ref name="Dabble">{{cite web |last1=Eldredge |first1=Richard |title=Chef Paul Luna Returns to Dabble in Downtown Black Market Lunacy |url=https://press.fourseasons.com/atlanta/hotel-news/chef-paul-luna-and-park-75-s-chef-robert-gerstenecker-collaborate-to-cook-up-some-fun-in-atlanta/ |website=[[Atlanta (magazine)|Atlanta]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323115840/http://www.atlantamagazine.com/blogs/atlintel/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10078484 |archive-date=March 23, 2010 |format=blog |date=January 7, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He introduced European, Mediterranean, and South American cuisine through his restaurants Luna Sí, Eclipse di Luna (opened in 1997),<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKibben |first1=Beth |title=Restaurant Prepares to Spice Up Alpharetta Development With Paella, Sangria, and Salsa Dancing |url=https://atlanta.eater.com/2021/10/26/22746885/alpharetta-eclipse-di-luna-tapas-bar-salsa-dancing-opening-halcyon |website=[[Eater (website)|Eater]] |access-date=February 17, 2024 |date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> and Loca Luna (opened in 1999),<ref>{{cite book |title=Innovative Restaurant Concepts, Volumes 3-4 |date=1999 |publisher=Ecklein Communications |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yVgsAQAAMAAJ&q=%22paul+luna%22+%22loca+luna%22+%221999%22}}</ref> and was widely known as a "bad boy" who ruled his dining room impetuously, sometimes staging impromptu striptease dances to amuse and shock patrons.<ref name="mystique">{{cite web |last1=Bostock |first1=Cliff |title=The mystique of Paul Luna |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-174320-the-mystique-of-paul-luna |website=[[Creative Loafing]] |access-date=February 11, 2024 |date=May 8, 2002}}</ref>


Luna has worked with chefs such as Michele Attali at [[Petrossian (business)|Petrossian]] in Paris, [[Terrance Brennan]] at New York City's Picholine, and Gianni Scappin of [[BiCE Ristorante]], Milan.<ref name="Four Seasons Atlanta"/> He also opened and ran establishments in Washington D.C., Italy, and Canada.<ref name="Four Seasons Atlanta">{{cite web |title=Hotel News |url=https://press.fourseasons.com/atlanta/hotel-news/chef-paul-luna-and-park-75-s-chef-robert-gerstenecker-collaborate-to-cook-up-some-fun-in-atlanta/ |website=FourSeasons.com |publisher=[[Four Seasons Atlanta]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308174519/https://press.fourseasons.com/atlanta/hotel-news/chef-paul-luna-and-park-75-s-chef-robert-gerstenecker-collaborate-to-cook-up-some-fun-in-atlanta/ |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |format=press release |date=September 25, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sietsema |first1=Tom |title=The Weekly Dish |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/03/02/the-weekly-dish/3d38968e-b1a1-4efa-88b1-8f87a89c7b81/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 1, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sietsema |first1=Tom |title=Taking Some Heat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/06/22/taking-some-heat-novice-chef/29fcf6a9-39dd-4870-9719-e17a4e1957fb/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 21, 2005}}</ref> Luna's tenure with [[Four Seasons Resort Maui]] at Wailea, [[Hawaii]]<ref name="Gayot 2010">{{cite web |title=Hawaii Restaurant News Archive |url=https://www.gayot.com/restaurants/hawaiinews_archive.html |website=[[Gayot]] |access-date=February 11, 2024 |date=November 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cabasin |first1=Linda |last2=Wang |first2=Amy |title=Fodor's Maui 2009 |date=2008 |publisher=[[Fodor's Travel Publications]] |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncTSIgceVc0C&pg=PA203}}</ref> gave him the opportunity to lead cooking classes for children through the [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of America|Big Brothers Big Sisters]] of Maui program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Big Brothers Big Sisters Has a 'Private Chef' |url=http://www.chefluna.com/Updates-20070930.html |website=ChefLuna.com |publisher=[[The Maui News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905204538/http://www.chefluna.com/Updates-20070930.html |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Luna has worked with chefs such as Michele Attali at [[Petrossian (business)|Petrossian]] in Paris, [[Terrance Brennan]] at New York City's Picholine, and Gianni Scappin of [[BiCE Ristorante]], Milan.<ref name="Four Seasons Atlanta"/> He also opened and ran establishments in Washington D.C., Italy, and Canada.<ref name="Four Seasons Atlanta">{{cite web |title=Hotel News |url=https://press.fourseasons.com/atlanta/hotel-news/chef-paul-luna-and-park-75-s-chef-robert-gerstenecker-collaborate-to-cook-up-some-fun-in-atlanta/ |website=FourSeasons.com |publisher=[[Four Seasons Atlanta]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308174519/https://press.fourseasons.com/atlanta/hotel-news/chef-paul-luna-and-park-75-s-chef-robert-gerstenecker-collaborate-to-cook-up-some-fun-in-atlanta/ |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |format=press release |date=September 25, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sietsema |first1=Tom |title=The Weekly Dish |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/03/02/the-weekly-dish/3d38968e-b1a1-4efa-88b1-8f87a89c7b81/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 1, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sietsema |first1=Tom |title=Taking Some Heat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/06/22/taking-some-heat-novice-chef/29fcf6a9-39dd-4870-9719-e17a4e1957fb/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 21, 2005}}</ref> Luna's tenure with [[Four Seasons Resort Maui]] at Wailea, [[Hawaii]]<ref name="Gayot 2010">{{cite web |title=Hawaii Restaurant News Archive |url=https://www.gayot.com/restaurants/hawaiinews_archive.html |website=[[Gayot]] |access-date=February 11, 2024 |date=November 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cabasin |first1=Linda |last2=Wang |first2=Amy |title=Fodor's Maui 2009 |date=2008 |publisher=[[Fodor's Travel Publications]] |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncTSIgceVc0C&pg=PA203}}</ref> gave him the opportunity to lead cooking classes for children through the [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of America|Big Brothers Big Sisters]] of Maui program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Big Brothers Big Sisters Has a 'Private Chef' |url=http://www.chefluna.com/Updates-20070930.html |website=ChefLuna.com |publisher=[[The Maui News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905204538/http://www.chefluna.com/Updates-20070930.html |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Revision as of 06:41, 17 February 2024

Paul Luna (born c. 1966)[1] is a Dominican-American chef, restaurateur, author, and political activist. In Atlanta he opened and operated a number of successful restaurants, including Luna Sí, Eclipse di Luna, and Loca Luna. In 2009 he opened a training kitchen for refugee women, Lunacy Black Market, in downtown Atlanta.[1]

Early life

Luna was born circa 1966[1] in the Dominican Republic, to middle-class parents.[2] He was one of 13 siblings.[2] He is of Italian and Spanish heritage.[3]

Career

Luna moved to Atlanta in 1992 and opened Bice, a Milan-based, upscale Italian restaurant chain.[2][4]

In 1993 he opened his own first restaurant, Luna Sí, on Peachtree Road.[5]

He was a controversial figure on the Atlanta restaurant scene in the 1990s, often critical of local trendiness and faddish tastes.[6] He introduced European, Mediterranean, and South American cuisine through his restaurants Luna Sí, Eclipse di Luna (opened in 1997),[7] and Loca Luna (opened in 1999),[8] and was widely known as a "bad boy" who ruled his dining room impetuously, sometimes staging impromptu striptease dances to amuse and shock patrons.[4]

Luna has worked with chefs such as Michele Attali at Petrossian in Paris, Terrance Brennan at New York City's Picholine, and Gianni Scappin of BiCE Ristorante, Milan.[9] He also opened and ran establishments in Washington D.C., Italy, and Canada.[9][10][11] Luna's tenure with Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Hawaii[12][13] gave him the opportunity to lead cooking classes for children through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui program.[14]

In 2009, Luna wrote and published a bilingual children’s book, Luna Needs a Miracle! ¡Luna Necesita un Milagro![15][9]

Advocacy and philanthropy

Luna advocated small businesses run by mixed-income, multi-national owners as the way to rejuvenate Atlanta's historic downtown area. "We're still segregated," he says. "All my white customers think, downtown: black. Period."[1]

In 2009 he opened a training kitchen for refugee women, Lunacy Black Market,[1] a low-cost restaurant in downtown Atlanta.[16] He worked with BryAnn Chen, executive director of Refugee Women's Network, to identify appropriate candidates for employment in this restaurant.[1] It closed in 2014, a year after Luna moved to Switzerland.[17]

Beginning in 2010, Luna occasionally declared for a few years that he would run for mayor of Atlanta.[1][18][19]

Personal life

Luna is married to Cynthia T. Luna.[20] After she moved to Switzerland, Luna moved there as well in 2013 to be with her.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Peisner, Lynn (May 18, 2010). "Paul Luna pioneers downtown dinnertable politics". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Lauterbach, Christiane (April 1, 2011). "Culinary Character: Paul Luna". Atlanta. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Kessler, John (April 15, 2011). "Food from the heart". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. D1, D4. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Bostock, Cliff (May 8, 2002). "The mystique of Paul Luna". Creative Loafing. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Kaupman, Gary (May 20, 1993). "Eat" (PDF). Southern Voice. pp. 25–26. Retrieved February 15, 2024. (p. 26)
  6. ^ Eldredge, Richard (January 7, 2010). "Chef Paul Luna Returns to Dabble in Downtown Black Market Lunacy". Atlanta. Archived from the original (blog) on March 23, 2010.
  7. ^ McKibben, Beth (October 26, 2021). "Restaurant Prepares to Spice Up Alpharetta Development With Paella, Sangria, and Salsa Dancing". Eater. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Innovative Restaurant Concepts, Volumes 3-4. Ecklein Communications. 1999. p. 9.
  9. ^ a b c "Hotel News". FourSeasons.com. Four Seasons Atlanta. September 25, 2009. Archived from the original (press release) on March 8, 2012.
  10. ^ Sietsema, Tom (March 1, 2005). "The Weekly Dish". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Sietsema, Tom (June 21, 2005). "Taking Some Heat". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "Hawaii Restaurant News Archive". Gayot. November 16, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Cabasin, Linda; Wang, Amy (2008). Fodor's Maui 2009. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 203.
  14. ^ "Big Brothers Big Sisters Has a 'Private Chef'". ChefLuna.com. The Maui News. September 30, 2007. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008.
  15. ^ Pizarro, Sal (August 13, 2009). "Il Fornaio chef Paul Luna cooks up a children's book". The Mercury News. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Lunacy Black Market". Atlanta. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Townsend, Bob (October 20, 2014). "Lunacy Black Market Closed". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  18. ^ Endolyn, Osayi (October 30, 2012). "Paul Luna stirs up guisados, runs for mayor". Atlanta. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  19. ^ Chopra, Sonia (January 4, 2013). "Paul Luna for Mayor?". Eater Atlanta. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  20. ^ Spivak, Caleb J. (October 15, 2014). "Lunacy Black Market Shutters". What Now Atlanta. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Wheatley, Thomas (December 15, 2013). "Omnivore - Paul Luna has left Atlanta for Switzerland". Creative Loafing. Retrieved February 15, 2024.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Luna&diff=prev&oldid=1208366180

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