About Restaurateur and Interior Designer Barbara Lazaroff, ASID
Born and raised in New York City, Lazaroff's early studies focused on theater arts, including set design and lighting. She went on to study bio-chemistry and experimental psychology, working in various positions in the bio-medical field, before returning to her initial interest in space planning and interior design.
Barbara on Family
“Although my professional life is very rewarding, I still feel my most important creations, my greatest successes and blessings are my sons, Cameron and Byron. I feel my primary purpose is being their mom, setting a healthy role model and raising children of good moral stature, who will go on to contribute positively to the world at large.”
Her penchant for the dramatic and distinctive extends from her design work into her personal fashion style, as well as her eclectic home which the family shares with her menagerie of twenty-something dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, llamas and tortoises.
Ms. Lazaroff’s business and marketing acumen combined with her definitive design statements have provided an indelible imprint on the restaurant industry, as well as, the restaurants she co-owns and operates with her business partner, Chef Wolfgang Puck, their dedicated partners and talented staff.
Barbara Lazaroff is renowned for her innovative restaurant concepts as demonstrated in the restaurant design section of this site.
Other projects
Ms. Lazaroff remains engrossed in her passion for design, art, charity and her commitment to the restaurants’ operations. However, her plans for the future include finally setting time apart to realize her lifelong dream of writing and illustrating a series of children's books and marketing them with a line of children's toys and accessories.
She is also currently considering a web based/television project and a line of home furnishings and accessories.
Barbara is also co-owner of all the affiliate companies; such as, all the fine dining restaurants and is an equal shareholder in Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. In addition, Barbara is one of the owners of the Wolfgang Puck licensed products, i.e., cookware & accessories which are sold by HSN.
Lazaroff has also designed such popular restaurants as SHANE Hidden on the Glen, influenced by the lively colors and forms of the Southwest, which was a visual forerunner to the Wolfgang Puck Café; Eureka, inspired by the mechanics of the brewer's art and the classic films Metropolis and Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times; and Granita in Malibu, Lazaroff's dynamic and wildly unique "abstract interpretation" of the quality of light and sense of movement underwater.
Additionally, Lazaroff has worked abroad, designing Spago Tokyo, the Playboy Club Japan in Tokyo, and the Wolfgang Puck Café in Melbourne, Australia.
Co-founder of the Wolfgang Puck Food Company
In 1994, Ms. Lazaroff co-founded the Wolfgang Puck Food Company and served as a board director and the Director of Restaurant Design and Development until March of 1999.
Catering
Ms. Lazaroff and Chef Puck also have an extensive catering business, which garners international attention through such noteworthy events as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, Governors Ball, GLAAD League Convention & Gala, The Louis Vuitton United Cancer Front Gala, Donna Karan/Marshall Field’s Fashion Show, Lincoln Park Zoo Gala and Lyric Opera Chicago. Wolfgang Puck Catering brings a new level of innovation and inspiration to restaurant, special event, catering and food service management for cultural, corporate and entertainment venues across the world. Wolfgang Puck Catering venues in the United States are located in: Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles, CA, Minneapolis, MN, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, St. Louis, MO, and Washington D.C. The international catering venues are located in: Berlin, Germany & London, England.
Ms. Lazaroff and Chef Puck co-owned and operated fine dining restaurants:
(These links go to the official page at wolfgangpuck.com.)
- Chinois On Main - Santa Monica, CA ~ Opened 1983
- Postrio - San Francisco, CA Opened ~ 1989, now closed
- Spago - Las Vegas, NV ~ Opened 1992
- Spago - Beverly Hills, CA ~ Opened 1997
- Chinois - Las Vegas, NV ~ Opened 1998, now closed
- Trattoria Del Lupo - Las Vegas, NV Opened 1999
- POSTRIO - Las Vegas, NV ~ Opened 2000
- Spago - Maui, HI ~ Opened 2001
- Vert - Hollywood, CA ~ Opened 2002, now closed
- Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill – Las Vegas, NV ~ Opened 2004
- 20.21 - Minneapolis, MN ~ Opened 2005
- CUT – Beverly Hills, CA ~ Opened 2006
- Wolfgang Puck American Grille. Atlantic City, NJ ~ Opened 2006
- Red Seven @ The Pacific Design Center (W.P. Catering Division) – West Hollywood, CA ~ Opened 2007
Acclaim, Awards, Publications
Ms. Lazaroff’s innovative concepts and designs have received critical acclaim. Her projects and business acumen have been featured in many magazines and books. Please see her press page for this info. There, you will also find information about Barbara's television appearances.
Honorary Degrees
1992 Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Interior Designers Institute, Newport Beach, CA
1998 Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management,
Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI
Speaker - Lecturer
Ms. Lazaroff has been featured on the lecture circuit speaking about marketing strategies; building and maintaining successful restaurants at the RHIDEC show; at ASID conferences, MUFSO conventions, YPO conferences, the Volkswagen of America Board of Directors and managers, and at the Ceramic Tile Institute's annual conference.
Ms. Lazaroff has addressed students and faculty at UCLA seminars, California State University at Northridge and at the Interior Design Institute of Newport Beach.
Please see Barbara's press page.
Fashion
Lazaroff contributes much time to the fashion field as well.
She has extended herself to judge and give direction to the students at Fullerton Fashion School, as well as Brooks College in Long Beach and is a devoted supporter of Otis School of Design.
Humanitarian
Ms. Lazaroff is involved with a variety of humanitarian, environmental, social and political issues. You can learn about these causes on Barbara's Philanthropy page.
Design Awards
- 1991 Look West Award, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise
- 1991 Platinum Circle Award, Restaurant/Hotel Design Magazine
- 1992 The Interior Designers Institute of Newport Beach
- 1994 Assopiastrelle Design Award, Association of Ceramic Tile & Refractory Manufacturers, Italy
- 1995 Hospitality Design Award, Dupont Antron
- 1996 Ray Bradbury Creativity Award, Woodbury University Library Associates
- 2007 Art to Life Award for Interior Design, Art and Living Magazine
Business Awards
- 1986 Honors Profiles, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise
- 1994 Restaurant of the Year-SPAGO HOLLYWOOD, James Beard Foundation
- 1994 Business and Professional Women’s Award, United Jewish Fund
- 1995 Hot Concept Award, National Restaurant Association /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1996 Restaurant & Institution’s Top 100 Independent Restaurants-SPAGO HOLLYWOOD /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1997 Innovator Award, Nation’s Restaurant News /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1998 Top 10 List of Businesses Visa Award
- The Best of Los Angeles - Gayot Publications/Gault Millau /Lazaroff & Puck
- 2000 High Impact Restaurant Leadership Award, Restaurant Business
- 2000 Millennium Hall of Fame Award, National Association of Women Business Owners-Los Angeles Chapter
- 2000 Outstanding Achievements in Business & Community Contributions, Women in Business, Los Angeles
- 2001 Women Chef & Restaurateurs’ Golden Fork Award (sponsored by the Culinary Institute of America)
(The restaurants have additional awards from organizations & magazines too numerous to list)
Humanitarian Awards
- 1990 Woman of Achievement, the Woman’s Group Friends of Tel Hasher
- 1991 Social Concern Award, American Jewish Committee /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1991 Hall of Fame Award, QUEST Children’s Organization /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1992 Thanks for being an Angel, St. Vincent Meals-on-Wheels /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1993 Scholarship Fund Award, Oralingua School for the Hearing Impaired /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1994 Humanitarian of the Year Award, James Beard Foundation /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1995 Silver Spoon, Food Arts Magazine /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1997 Decade of Service, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1997 Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship Gala, Fulfillment Fund /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1997 Recipes for Success Book, Los Angeles Girl Scout Council
- 1997 Men & Women of the 90s, Muscular Dystrophy Association-City of L.A.
- 1997 Divine Design, Project Angel Food and DIFFA/LA
- 1999 Nevada Congressional Recognition, Safe Nest /Lazaroff & Puck
- 1999 Ireland Cancer Center-Pediatric Oncology Unit, University Hospitals of Cleveland
A room in the unit was named in honor of Lazaroff & Puck for their work with the bi-annual Five Star Sensation Event - 2001 Hospitality Design Magazine, Humanitarian of the Year Award
- 2002 University Hospitals of Cleveland, The Samuel Mather Award for Philanthropy
- 2004 St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Angel Award
- 2005 Community Spirit of Beverly Hills Award
- 2006 Aviva Family & Children’s Services, Spirit of Compassion Award
- 2006 Greystone Garden & Design Showcase Recognition & Appreciation Commendation
for Distinguished Service to The City of Beverly Hills - 2007 American Cancer Society, Special Recognition Award