"We are very pleased that the first Ritz-Carlton in North Carolina will also feature the first BLT Steak in North Carolina," said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer. "Chef Tourondel has redefined the traditional steakhouse and created award-winning restaurants in select cities across America." Combining the best products with his signature French accent, Tourondel's innovative approach has won him many honors in the culinary world including Bon Appétit magazine's "Restaurateur of the Year" in 2007.

"As Charlotte continues to grow as a business center, so does the city's dining audience. BLT Steak is a natural fit for the community and we are thrilled to be opening our first North Carolina restaurant in partnership with Ritz-Carlton," says Managing Partner Jimmy Haber.

Located off the main lobby of the Ritz-Carlton, BLT Steak will be accessible both through the hotel and via a dedicated entrance on College Street. BLT Steak in Charlotte will offer prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, a wide variety of tempting side dishes, and classic American dessert favorites.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America Center is part of the broad Bank of America Center development underway in uptown Charlotte, including the 30-story office tower, 1 Bank of America Center. The Urban Garden at Bank of America Center will adjoin the tower and the hotel, all of which will be connected to Founders Hall across College Street via twin crystalline skybridges.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 71 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Shenzhen, China; Dove Mountain, Arizona; and Lake Tahoe, California. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com.

ABOUT LAURENT TOURONDEL

Honored by Bon Appétit as Restaurateur of the Year in 2007 and by Food & Wine as a Best New Chef in 1997, Tourondel also has received an array of "Best of..." awards from publications that include Esquire, Travel & Leisure, Saveur and Wine Spectator. Tourondel has changed the approach of fine dining by creating accessible menus prepared with the finest ingredients and presented in a casual, comfortable dining room. By adhering to his belief that ingredients should be stellar, food simply prepared and service kind and efficient, BLT restaurants have become household names.

With the passion and skill of a French-trained chef, and the sensibility and style of a metropolitan restaurateur, Tourondel has successfully infiltrated the rarified world of New York restaurants and the national dining landscape, much to the delight of critics and diners alike.

ABOUT BLT RESTAURANT GROUP

BLT Restaurant Group is owned by Jimmy Haber, Laurent Tourondel and Keith Treyball, and comprised of BLT Steak in New York City (2004), Washington, DC (2006), San Juan, Puerto Rico (2006), White Plains (2007) and Los Angeles (2008); BLT Burger in New York City (2006) and Las Vegas (2008); and BLT Fish (2005), BLT Prime (2005) and BLT Market (2007) in New York City. Upcoming projects include additional locations of BLT Steak in Miami, Scottsdale, Atlanta and Charlotte.

Vivian Deuschl
Corporate Vice President, Public Relations
4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 800
Chevy Chase, Md. 20815
Tel: (703) 941-6225
Email: [email protected]

For BLT Restaurant Group:
Jennifer Baum
Bullfrog & Baum
212-255-6717
[email protected]