OK, so it wasn’t that big a surprise when JoJo Fletcher got cast off “The Bachelor” finale when Ben Higgins proposed to favorite Lauren Bushnell.
But it is somewhat newsy that she’s been named the next “Bachelorette.”
Chris Harrison made the announcement Monday night, with JoJo on hand to talk about her new gig — as well as face Ben for the first time since he broke up with her. (Apparently when Ben told both JoJo and Lauren he loved them, it was a first in the franchise’s history.)
Second runner-up Caila Quinn, a software sales representative from Ohio, initially was offered the “Bachelorette” post, but the show’s producers had a change of heart.
Us magazine reports Quinn was a polarizing pick. Many “Bachelor” fans were not pleased with her on social media, and many were more enthused by JoJo’s quest (particularly given Ben’s declarations to her.)
Quinn, whose mom is Filipino and dad is white (and would have been the first multiracial “Bachelorette”) graciously congratulated JoJo on Twitter.
NOT FLIRTY TO SOME
Coqueta, the name of celebrity chef Michael Chiarello’s restaurant in The City, may mean “flirtation” in Spanish, but some of his former employees claim he’s anything but playful.
Former servers at the trendy eatery (a place hosting Carlos Santana and Russell Crowe), have filed suit, accusing the chef and his staff of sexual harassment and labor law violations.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco by attorney Kelly Armstrong on behalf of Katherine Page and Asja Sever, alleges that the restaurant’s workplace was “sexually charged, hostile and abusive,” and that Chiarello, executive chef Dominick Maietta and managers Mirko Galliani and Marc Peyer inappropriately touched, caressed or stared at them. The complaint seeks punitive damages.
QUICK TAKES
“A San Francisco Pop-Up Treat” is the episode of “Extra Virgin Americana” (at 6 p.m. today on the Cooking Channel) in which cookbook authors Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos eat at a porchetta stand at the Farmers’ Market in The City before heading to the Napa Valley.
San Francisco contenders for James Beard Foundation 2016 Restaurant and Chef Awards include chefs Matthew Accarrino of SPQR, Dominique Crenn of Atelier Crenn, Corey Lee of Benu and Michael Tusk of Quince; restaurateur Michael Mina; bakers Belinda Leong and Michel Suas of B. Patisserie and William Werner of Craftsman and Wolves; and Liholiho Yacht Club. Winners will be announced May 2.
Folks at Verso, a new club in The City, say Warriors star Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha celebrated their March birthdays there Saturday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Actor Judah Friedlander is 47, … Actress Lauren Graham is 49. … Rapper Flavor Flav is 57. … Guitarist-singer Nancy Wilson is 62. … Novelist Alice Hoffman is 64. … Actor Erik Estrada is 67. … Director Bernardo Bertolucci is 75. … Game-show host Chuck Woolery is 75… Comedian Jerry Lewis is 90.
–Staff,wire reports
BacheloretteCaila QuinnCoquetaharassmentJames Beard AwardsJoJo FletcherKelly ArmstronglawsuitMichael Chiarello
Find out more at www.sfexaminer.com/join/