Richie Akiva dines with his dog, Meatball, at Butter.Photo: Melissa Hom
Richie Akiva, owner of celebrity favorite Butter, tells us that he and his partner Scott Sartiano’s next project 1OAK is set to open at 453 West 17th Street on October 19. He won’t tell us much more: “I really want it to be a surprise. It’s going to change the face of nightlife in New York.” He’s also working on opening clubs in Los Angeles and Miami (the latter, we can report, will be an outpost of Butter). So when he’s not starving himself for the Jewish holidays or enjoying “wifey day” with his current girlfriend (past lucky ladies: Mary-Kate, Lindsay, Carmen Kass, etc.), where does he butter his bread?
Friday, September 21
I follow Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur very religiously, since I was a baby. I don’t drink water. I don’t wash my face. I starve for 24 hours. When you eat again, you can’t eat as much, because your stomach just shrunk.
Thursday, September 20
I had a coffee in the morning. And I had Apple Jacks — that and Frosted Mini Wheats are favorites.
I ate lunch at Butter. I had French fries and a steak and some cookies. I eat at Butter like twice a week. I order the snap, or I order the steak or the chicken, those are my three favorite dishes. They make me some dishes off the menu — just like more of a plain fish without any sauce — or they’ll make me a pasta that’s not on the menu like a spaghetti Bolognese or a fusilli.
Wednesday, September 19
I had an eggplant Parmesan and sautéed spinach at Bar Pitti — I eat at Bar Pitti, Da Silvano, or Cipriani every day for lunch. Bar Pitti is very social. I run into a lot of friends.
I didn’t eat dinner. I had a big party for Puffy’s fragrance launch at a townhouse — basically a mansion — on 67th Street and Madison. I was in motion. When my mind is somewhere else, my stomach is not too hungry.
Tuesday, September 18
I had lunch at Cipriani — the veal limon and the avocado-fennel salad. I eat lunch around 3 p.m., so it’s never too crowded.
I had dinner at the Waverly Inn with my partner Scott Sartiano. I had the macaroni, cheese, and truffles; the tuna tartare and artichokes; and a sole. I don’t go there that much, once in a while with friends. I’m always with interesting people. The other day I was with Scott and his girlfriend, Jamie Lynn-Sigler. Then I was with Puff one night at dinner at the Gramercy.
Monday, September 17
For lunch I had a slice of pizza. I was running around.
I had dinner at Butter with Diana Ross’s son, Evan Ross, and a bunch of my friends and a couple of big model girls. Monday nights are rocking stronger than ever. We had Terrence Howard, Kimora Lee, Russell Simmons, and a whole bunch of race-car drivers like Jeff Gordon and Edie Irvine and Jimmy Johnson. Cuba Gooding Jr. was there. They come up to my table and say hi. I’m not a sitting-down-for-dinner-type person. I’m always wandering — on the move, always working.
Sunday, September 16
For lunch we ordered in brunch from a place called Petaluma.
Sunday I don’t do anything except hang out with my girlfriend at the time, whoever that may be. I call that day “wifey day.” I cook, we go to the movies, walk around and do stupid things. I cooked corn, French fries, and an avocado salad with a dressing that my father taught me the recipe for. He also taught me to cook the most amazing Italian breaded chicken cutlet. You’ll never taste any better.
Saturday, September 15
I went to Morandi to meet my friends for a little bite. I had a burrata and fried artichoke. Then I went to Nobu. I had Kobe-beef skewers, and I had the yellowtail jalapeño, and I had a couple of sushi rolls. That’s like a family place for me. One of my best friends is Robert De Niro’s son, so I’ve been going there since the day it opened. They take care of me very well there. I generally go to places where I’m comfortable and I feel taken care of.