the Tavern on the Green in New York in conjunction
with Food and Wine Magazine to introduce Alice Waters
of Chez Panisse, Paul Prudhomme from New Orleans and
Alain Dutournier from Paris amongst others to cook together.
Mel In 1980 Mel and Janie who had met Tom and Sally
Jordan in Denver, moved to Healdsburg California to
undertake the task of setting up and running and doing
all the PR for the new JORDAN WINERY in Sonoma County
and Mel has been credited with the initial marketing
success of the winery. After the success of Jordan,
Mel and Janie left California for New York and got together
with friend Jonathan Waxman (who was the original chef
at Michael's in Santa Monica) and opened JAMS RESTAURANT
(Jonathan and Melvyn's). It was one of the hottest and
most successful restaurants of New York in the 1980's
and the first Californian style restaurant. Mel and
Jonathan also opened Buds and Hulots in New York and
later Jams in London. They sold the restaurants in the
late1980's and Mel and Janie returned to France. In
1992 they began work again in the wine business and
introduced a line of varietal wines from the Languedoc
into the USA market under the label LES JAMELLES. They
were the first people to sell varietal wines from France
and they traveled extensively to build sales and took
the brand to over 75,000 cases worldwide before selling
it in 1995. During this time Janie also joined forces
with their old friend Blair Taylor and opened BAROLO
GRILL, Denver and sold her interests to Blair a few
years later.
In early 1995 Mel and Janie realized a life long dream
of opening a restaurant together in Denver which represented
all that they had learnt and loved in the food and wine
business over the years. MEL’S BAR AND GRILL opened
in November 1995 and was quickly named by Esquire Magazine
as one of the top 25 new restaurants in the USA. Later
in February 1998 Wine and Food Magazine did a 5 page
article on Mel and Janie and the restaurant. Since that
time Mel’s has enjoyed national acclaim from Magazines
such as Bon Appetite and Gourmet Magazine .Today Mel
has turned his attention to ANNABEL'S along with his
family team and Mr. Adam Mali. You will enjoy the same
sense of comfort and food/wine combinations that you've
shared with Mel and his family for many years to come.
