Jessica Biel spent years – literally, YEARS – putting together her “kid-friendly” restaurant, Au Fudge. I would feel bad for her, except what else did she have going on? She had the time, money and resources to put together a really nice restaurant. Except that when Biel opened Au Fudge two months ago, it was not well-received. She had claimed that she wanted Au Fudge to be a friendly, welcoming, unstressful place where kids of all ages were welcome. The reviews were scathing though – the kids’ menu is short and overpriced, the place is chaotic and poorly managed, there are hygiene issues, the focus is on booze and the food isn’t even good. And now Star Magazine has a new layer of dysfunction: Jessica’s mad because her husband won’t do anything to help her promote Au Fudge!
Jessica Biel called in every favor she had for the March 1 grand opening of her family-friendly restaurant, Au Fudge. Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire and Rachel Zoe were just some of the celebrity guests posing for photos to promote their dear friend’s new business. And yet Justin Timberlake, who was also in attendance, does not appear in a single photo.
“Justin’s been unsupportive of Jessica’s dream since day one,” reveals a source close to Timberlake, whose NYC eatery Southern Hospitality BBQ has been plagued by problems. “He knows from experience that opening a restaurant is extremely risky, and he warned her. But Jessica went ahead and did it anyway.”
When the bad reviews for Au Fudge came rolling in, Justin had only this to say to his wife: I told you so.
“It’s put an unusual strain on their marriage,” says an eyewitness who recently spotted Justin sulking outside the restaurant. “He was slouched over in the front seat of her car, his feet on the dash. He looked like a miserable teenager, listening to the radio and playing on his phone. Justin hasn’t lifted a finger to help Jessica promote Au Fudge. She knew he thought she was nuts, but she thought he’d at least be supportive. Jessica desperately wants Justin’s help. This restaurant is her baby, but he won’t budge.”
[From Star Magazine, print edition]
This sounds like “Obvious Justin Timberlake story is obvious.” I too noticed that Justin was in the wind when it came to Au Fudge’s grand opening, but I thought that was part of their deal – Jessica has to come out to support HIS stuff, but he never comes out to support her stuff. But they do seem to have a new deal after the baby – Justin has come out for Biel more often in the past year. But just not about Au Fudge. Because girl, I told you not to open a restaurant. It’s your own fault, chica! Own your disaster.
PS… Biel can’t dress for sh-t either.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
OMG..that dress. I mean the whole top half is bad enough but then there’s a bow??!!
Design flaw? Slap a bow on it! Then no one will notice.
A friend who is a costume designer for theater taught me that. She loathed bows.
This is her pet project, not his. If he promoted her resturant for her constantly, the story would be that he’s making it all about himself. This resturant was obviously misguided in its conception and/or execution. That’s not Justin’s fault. And I don’t even like him.
There is middle ground. He doesn’t have to promote it “constantly.” Some help would still be nice, as her spouse.
This men made their wedding cover about him, their baby annoucement about him, the only way he would support her would be the restaurant do well, so it would be about him either.
The restaurant will never make money because it was poorly executed. Promotion won’t cover up the high priced, awful food and the pay to play in the play room.
I looked at the website and I didn’t really think it was expensive. I live in Philadelphia next door to a restaurant that cost just as much and though it’s nice and swanky with an awesome bar it’s not even the most popular in Center City. I’m surprised ppl in LA find those prices expensive.
It’s expensive when it’s being marketed for as for children and families.
Also, I live in Baltimore, and our restaurant prices are (in general, obviously not for places like Le Bernardin) WAY higher than say in Brooklyn where my sister lives. For similar, pub/seafood/casual type of places. Because there is far more competition in Brooklyn and about 1000 more restaurants. I imagine it’s a similar situation in LA.
It’s not expensive for its target customers. It’s marketed to RICH or at least very financially comfortable families with children, not general families with children. The people who would find the prices excessive would not even consider eating there or at other places with comparable prices.
Maybe its smart for him to stay well clear of it for when the lawsuits star? And keep his money out of it too!
She always wears awful clothes. But that dress…wow. Yikes.
Too much money and too much time on her hands.
these two as a couple still make me go “HUH????!!!!”
Me too. He has never seem really into her so I was surprised when they got married
And what in the WORLD is going on in that second picture?
Didn’t Justin once try the restaurant thing and fail? I thought so…if that’s the case, then I can understand his reluctance. Restaurant owning is a seriously risky business.
No. His restaurant is still open as far as I know.
Shizz…even Barbie dolls have better wardrobe selections.
I doubt very much that she’s surprised by his lack of support for this, if he advised against it all along. She’s the entrepreneur, she can handle it herself.
I agree. If he advised against it from the start because he knew it wasn’t well planned then I don’t blame him either
It’s Star. There was just an interview out with her last week, and she was praising Justin’s support regarding her doing this. She was all excited about the project and said she she wants to open more. She really talked up Justin, though, as far as how encouraging he had been about her desire to opening this restaurant. So I don’t believe anything in this.
Don’t speak logically on this site people believe everything they read
That dress is hideous!
She and the restaurant don’t need more promotion – they need to fix the very obvious problems of pricing, cleanliness, menu options, etc. Her business partners in this are a stylist and a children’s book author. They don’t need Timberlake, they need people who know what they’re doing in the restaurant biz.
Exactly, there’s a huge problem os misconception and also a lack of knowledge about the business. People may go to your restaurant once cause you are famous, but if it sucks, they won’t be back.
The dress is ugly and JT has crazy eyes.
Her style really is atrocious. How does such a gorgeous woman consistently manage to look so bad?
I feel like Biel missed her calling as a workout instructor or camp counselor or something. She seems like a perfectly lovely person, but does not belong in Holllywood. She has no spark whatsoever. Like, whatever the opposite of the “x factor” is, that’s what she has in spades. The blah factor.
Wow…that was harsh. And so true. “No ‘it’ factor this one has” –Yoda
As a child care director who runs a program that has 50 kids in it, I’m thinking Jessica might need some extra workers on hand who are nannies or experienced with children. Just a thought… That might cut down on the stress and chaos and help keep the kids occupied. But if this is a restaurant that draws people with kids and is supposed to cater to them, then you have to expect it to be slightly chaotic. It’s realistic to expect some issues here and there. Things don’t run perfectly, especially with children. But it’s tons of fun! I would love to visit her restaurant and give some tips! One of the few things I feel I’m really good at lol.
As for Justin… I wouldn’t be surprised if this was true. He’s shown himself to be self centered in the past. At the same time I don’t see what he could do to help. The issues here seem to be deeper…
It wasn’t executed well and I guess she thought her name and friends could help her, but she should’ve known better. She isn’t tight with the Gwenyth crowd and so far it doesn’t look like her friend Jennifer Garner came and used her pap connections so this is not surprising.
When I take my kids out to eat it is because I want to be with them and enjoy a night out. If there is a play area and they get antsy sure have some fun. One thing that struck me was that they were going use all natural cleaning products. I love natural cleaning products for my home but in a public place I want the heavy duty stuff,
The menu was an overpriced mess and the Momny crowd she was courting may have money but it doesn’t mean they are stupid.
As to him not supporting her, it’s been obvious that he hasn’t promoted it. In his defense if my spouse went ahead with something I tried to warn them about I would be less enthusiastic, and if they continuously ignored my advice, I might be a bit reluctant to throw my support 100 percent.
This is Justin and she knew he was self centered all along so if the story is true then why is she surprised.
That Dress!!! I want to rip off the lacing on it Jamie Lee Curtis Style in the movie True Lies…
I just checked out the website for her restau and I don’t get why everyone is saying the menu is boozy? It has a page of cocktails (14) and a huge wine list. The food does seem a bit expensive, BUT it is LA and everything is organic, local, blah, blah. The food sounds yummy actually. I would take a kid there because there is food on the menu kids can have, other than chicken fingers and plain spaghetti. I think it’s kid friendly but really a family restaurant that may be a bit upscale. And all restaurants suck when they open! Anyways, she married a douchebag so whatever….god bless her for trying.
Read the yelp reviews. Some of them are actually brutal.
The Yelp reviews are fascinating.
I believe everyone is influenced by the Timberlake connection, whether Justin is consciously helping or not.
And the negative starts are mostly for stuff that could be fixed, if Biel has the stamina and the vision. So many people WANTED to like the place.
It’s weird to have a cocktail menu at all in a restaurant aimed entirely at children. Like, I can see maybe having a bit of wine because parents need to relax, but are you really going to be boozing it up around your kids?
Especially in a city where people travel by car almost exclusively. I don’t mind cocktails but it went heavy on the alcohol for the theme.
Magnoliarose, that was my first thought. I had this horrible mental picture of some irresponsible person dropping the kiddies off in the play room, getting liquored up, and then getting behind the wheel of a vehicle with the kids in tow.
Yeah… I mean, heaven forbid a parent have a stressful day and not be able to sit down and enjoy a nice cocktail with their dinner. The horror of acting like a normal person and not just a vessel designed to raise children!
LMAO don’t ever come to Australia where pubs have kids playgrounds.
Good on whatever rando managed to sell “I saw Justin Timberlake in a parked car” to the tabloids.
The wonders of capitalism.
I’m not going to lie, I come to this post with an absolute irrational dislike of JT. Yes you may or may not catch me teeny bopper bouncing to his Top Hits while I’m baking in my kitchen, but his weasel eyes don’t earn my trust. If we were running in the same social circles, I’d whisper to all my best gfs to stay away from that shifty dude.
Unfortunately the rational side of me thinks, he’s going to actually let JB let her have her OWN thing for once and not tap dance his weasel ass into her limelight or disaster zone (whichever you prefer).
Lastly, that dress is GAWFUL. GAWFUL. I feel like her husband Colonel Sanders has passed away and this is her appropriate sexy mourning outfit.
I love it- tap dance his weasel ass! Perfect!
I’m so glad to hear some one else has an irrational distrust/dislike of JT. I thought it was just me. And yes he does look like a weasel!!
He does have weasel eyes and you never, ever trust one.
It’s like he just knew the restaurant would be a disaster didn’t want his name associated with it. Good call.
He’s been pap’d going to the restaurant multiple times and was at the opening. Sounds like bs to me
Why does jess always sport “crazy eyes”?
I’m sorry, but i wouldn’t support her either. Obviously she didnt put enough effort in educating herself or in execution. We’ve all known ppl like that…they dont take advice bc of lack of self esteem for not wantint to seem incapable then …the results are horrible a d they’re heartbroken. Jess be crazy not to hire a management company to just do everything and only show up for pics.