Anyone in the mood for some barbeque?

[Techguy]

From The Salt Lake Tribune

Screen star promotes family rib franchise
By Dawn House
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 08/16/2007 11:56:30 PM MDT

There is precious little celebrity stardust sprinkled around Utah's eateries.

Robert Redford and his Zoom and Sundance restaurants come to mind. And former Jazz player Mark Eaton's Tuscany and Franck's.

Now, diners can think of Detective Robert Goren, the lead character in the TV series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" or the hilarious villain, Edgar, in "Men in Black," when they munch on slow-cooked barbecued meats at Rib City. The restaurant opens on Saturday, and then seven days a week, initially from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Actor Vincent D'Onofrio has teamed with his sister and brother-in-law, Toni and Ron Jorgensen, to open this Southern, speciality barbecue restaurant at 2071 E. 9400 South, Sandy.

This is D'Onofrio's first Rib City franchise and the Jorgensens' second. The other opened last year in American Fork, and there are plans for franchises in Park City, Saratoga Springs and St. George.

On Wednesday, D'Onofrio sipped a cool drink and dutifully dealt with the media as his sister and brother-in-law labored amid ladders and boxes for their grand opening. Although D'Onofrio will be back in New York this weekend to film another "Law and Order" episode, he'll be dropping by the restaurants, as he always does when visiting family.

His sister brought him to Utah. She had worked for Chili's, met her husband, a native of Pleasant Grove, and the two settled in American Fork. It was her family's Florida roots that brought about the Utah franchises.

Rib City, which opened in Fort Myers, Fla., in 1989, operates 13 corporate restaurants in south Florida, from St. Petersburg to Immokalee, along with nine franchises in Utah, Washington, Colorado and Michigan.

The down-home fare features baby back and St. Louis spare ribs, lean beef and pork, chicken and smoked turkey breast, topped with one of four sauces - brown sugar, vinegar, hot and Carolina mustard.

D'Onofrio said he decided to invest because of his sister's long career in the food industry and the success of her first franchise. Being the loyal partner, he answered questions on Wednesday, without the assurance one would expect of his 50-some-odd film roles.

"I still consider myself an actor trying to get a job," he said. "I never sought to be famous or a star. I just keep doing what I do."

His supporting and character roles in movies are so diverse that his nickname is the human chameleon. He played a serial killer in "The Cell," a time traveler in "Happy Accidents" and a man mistaken for a superhero in "Adventures in Babysitting."

His role in "Men in Black" was a bit perplexing because D'Onofrio wasn't sure how to play a man whose body was taken over by a giant insect. Inspiration came after pausing at a sports store. D'Onofrio strapped braces to his calves and thighs, and taped his knees bent and his ankles straight for that famous bug strut.

The television series has taken away his anonymity. It's something "that's gone forever," he said with a sigh, as episodes play around the world "until the day I die."

Still, D'Onofrio has no publicist. He is, frankly, a shy man who makes an effort at being easygoing when strangers approach. He took to heart the advice of his late friend, Gregory Hines, the triple-threat star of stage, screen and television, to "always be gracious to the fans. Even if your kid is having a meltdown, they applaud you," said D'Onofrio. "He taught to give that back."

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[DonnaJo]

Yes, Vincent has always mentioned his family, especially his sisters Toni & Elizabeth, with fondness & affection. It's not surprising that he would offer his help on another franchise.

The publicity of his connection with the restaurant will also help its success. I know I would eat there if I lived in the area, in the chances of him stopping in for a visit.

I wonder if he helped his Dad in the same way, by privately investing in that acting school he's involved in?

[ragincajun]

wow thats great, didn't know of the second sister, any other siblings? Are his sisters older or younger does anyone know? Just courious.

[DonnaJo]

Vincent has mentioned a sister named Toni once or twice in past interviews. He's never mentioned, at least to my knowledge, a husband or kids for her, like he's mentioned his sister Elizabeth's son Hawke.

I'm thinking that Toni might be his half sister from another marriage, perhaps from Gene D'Onofrio's first marriage? She's definitely older than Vincent, as he talks about her being involved in the Vietnam era riots during his commentary in Steal This Movie. She's at least 8 or 9 years older.

Did you notice in the photo that he is clean shaven? No USA promo beard. The photo was taken this past Wednesday. Wonder if the beard is already history, or if he'll regrow it later?

[Patcat]

I noticed the beard, too. I bet it's gone by the second Goren/Eames story, maybe by the end of the first.

Mr. D'Onofrio seems to be a standup guy with his family and friends. The only people who seem to annoy him are the lowest tiers of entertainment hacks.

I've often thought that many actors are very shy people who aren't entirely comfortable with being themselves. It must be really hard when they become successful and then have to themselves in front of millions of people.

Patcat

[Techguy]

Courtesy of www.thereelvincentdonofrio.com and the anonymous person who sent in the picture, here's a photo of a beardless Vincent D'Onofrio with his sister Toni and her husband Ron.

[Techguy]

More about Ribs from http://www.slenterprise.com:

Aug. 20, 2007

Law & Order star opens new restaurant in Sandy

By Debbi Taylor
The Enterprise

In between shooting promos for the Tribeca Film Festival and studying 15-20 pages of script before the next filming of the NBC television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, in New York City, Vincent D'Onofrio flew to Utah for a day last week to help open Rib City in Sandy.

The new restaurant, located at 2071 E. 9400 S., is D'Onofrio's first venture into the restaurant business, which he co-owns with his sister and brother-in-law Toni and Ron Jorgensen.

"Our plan is to open five Rib City restaurants in Utah," said D'Onofrio, who plays Det. Robert Goren on Criminal Intent. "We're having fun so far and the food is good."

For the Jorgensens, the Sandy location is their second Rib City franchise. They opened their first Rib City in American Fork about 18 months ago, and its success prompted them to expand the concept along the Wasatch Front.

"We were at a family get-together in Florida and I told Toni we should open another one together," D'Onofrio said.

While Toni and Ron will be doing most of the work in operating the Sandy restaurant, D'Onofrio said that he will be the "Billboard" to attract attention to it.

"I'll be like Mickey Mouse," D'Onofrio said. "I can help people be aware of it and some will come in and try it because I'm involved. It's up to them to decide they like it and come back."

He won't however, be cooking or serving food in the restaurant any time soon.

"She [Toni] has to do it because I'm out doing films and television. I'm here to support things and I'll be here every once in a while with my kids." D'Onofrio said. "We grew up in the restaurant business and I was not a good waiter -- I was a good bus boy and I used to wash dishes at Denny's."

He may, however, run an order out to an unsuspecting customer waiting curbside for their food when he is in town.

With business increasing 30 percent in the past year at the American Fork Rib City, gaining a loyal following of repeat customers is not something the trio is worried about.

"We have a family that comes in every week in American Fork wearing our t-shirts," Toni Jorgensen said, adding that local celebrities, such as Kerri Cronk of Fox 13 news and Jazz basketball coach Jerry Sloan are frequent patrons of the restaurant.

"We selected Sandy because it was an area that needed a barbecue place on the east side of the valley," she said. "It's a very clean town that has a lot of people and is not far from the ski resorts."

The group is looking at a possible third location in Saratoga Springs.

Rib City was founded in Ft. Myers, Fla. in 1989 by Jerry Pastore, who decided to open his own restaurant with a full menu based on his barbecue creations that were popular with family and friends. He later partnered with Florida restaurateurs Paul and Craig Peden, who now own the chain, which currently has 26 restaurants in five states. Of those, half are company-owned and half are franchises.

"We're a small family chain that has the feel of a 'Mom and Pop' but we have a franchise behind us that helps us out a lot," Toni said. "They've been through all the ups and downs and have learned what to do to make this a success."

Menu items at Rib City are based on Southern Florida "wet" barbecue, meaning that the meats are cooked with barbecue sauces and not seasoned rubs. Meats, of which the majority of are sliced, not pulled, are slow cooked in an outdoor smoker that can cook 1,300 pounds of meat per day.

"We are best known for our baby back ribs," Toni said. "We have the smokers going all day long. We have a full American menu with something for everybody, from hot dogs to whole hogs."

The Sandy restaurant seats 89 people and has 25 employees. It is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The restaurant also provides catering services for small and large parties, a service that D'Onofrio is planning on using next summer on the set of a "Western" movie he is planning on shooting and directing in Utah.

D'Onofrio said he chose Utah not only because of his ties to the state, but because "there is a really good film commission here," he said. "And I know where I'll get my food from."

[DonnaJo]

What a fantastic find, Techguy. So much "juicy" information about VDO, especially the mention of his plans next summer to shoot & direct a Western film in Utah.

Wonder if that is the same film he was planning to direct a few years back?

[Techguy]

This review of Rib City Grill is in the Deseret Morning News. The following is an excerpt--for the complete text go to the highlighted link:

Dining out: Rib City Grill
By Stacey Kratz[/b]

Deseret Morning News
Published: Friday, Nov. 16, 2007 12:14 a.m. MST

Rib City Grill is named right.

The Sandy franchise, which incidentally is co-owned by "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" star Vincent D'Onofrio, has some of the best ribs I've tasted, and that's coming from someone who doesn't normally care much for ribs. But the ultrasmoky, chewy, surprisingly lean and meaty baby back ribs turned out at Rib City would convert almost anyone.

Nothing else we had at Rib City quite met the quality of the ribs, but we were mostly OK with that. Some things were good, a few were very good, and the whole experience was enhanced by painstaking, friendly service with a casual vibe.
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[DonnaJo]

Thanks Techguy. Glad to here the place is doing well.

If the strike continues, maybe Vincent will spend more time at the restaurant. That would be a thrill for the locals.

[Ladyheather]

Ok, so the big news today is VDO in Nashville. Well I can't be there, wish I was. However as I type this, my husband is in Sandy Utah at Rib City BBQ. He just sent me a pic over his phone. He is with VDO's sister and he has a pic of VDO for me ! ! VDO has signed a bunch of them and she signed it too. I am soooo happy.

Don is out there on business and I had to stay home and take care of my mother and grandson. He said that he had a great dinner and would go back again if they have time. So this is such a blessing for him to do that for me.

[DonnaJo]

How wonderful, ladyheather!

Your husband is so sweet. How nice of Vincent to leave autograph photos for patrons/fans for his sister to give out. I'm very happy for you.

Is the photo of him at the restaurant, or a Goren one?

[Ladyheather]

I don't know yet. He didn't tell me. I assume it is a typical PR photo. The way Don said it to me, was his sister just got in, and these photos were new... I don't know.. anyway I will let u know.

Don knows my obsession with LOCI and VDO. It was so nice of him to do this for me. He is in Salt Lake until friday working. I am married to a wonderful guy for 32 years ! !

[Ladyheather]

I just got in today from Pittsburgh and my husband from Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his coworker visited the restaurant for dinner. Don and Tom both said that they loved the meal. Don approached Toni and ask her for a picture. She went and got some pictures that VDO had signed. She put my name on it above his signature. It is soooooo great ! ! It is an earlier PR photo, but I am great full to get it. He made me a very happy woman. When he gave me the photo he said that he knew that he would get a lot of mileage out of this gift ! ! So true

Don said that she was very, very nice person. He was surprised that she was so open and friendly. It was such a good experience that he said that he would definitely eat there again.

[lilymaybeme]

What a lucky lady you are! Doubly blessed with a thoughtful, sweet husband AND an autographed photo of VDO! Enjoy.