Why One Wolfgang Puck Airport Restaurant Is So Meaningful To Him

Wolfgang Puck has attained worldwide acclaim for his career, which spans nearly six decades (via Wolfgang Puck). He was among the world's first-named celebrity chefs and, in 2017, joined other luminaries of the celebrity world with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has also made dozens of television appearances, including on talk shows and scripted sitcoms. In addition to his celebrity status, Puck now operates close to 100 restaurants around the world, according to FTN News. 

Puck, whose signature brands include Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Wolfgang Puck Catering, and Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc., was just 14 years old when he began his formal culinary training. Guided by his mother, who was a pastry chef in the small Austrian town where he grew up (via The Orange County Register), Puck found his niche in the kitchen. Throughout his career, he has built a culinary empire that spans the globe. 

Wolfgang Puck left Europe when he was 24 (via Wolfgang Puck), landing first in Indianapolis at La Tour, an old-world French-inspired restaurant. According to Historic Indianapolis, Puck chose this city because he thought that it would be culturally similar to Monaco because of the Indianapolis 500. While his instincts were a little misdirected, he stayed on as a line cook for a couple of years. He then set his sights on Hollywood. At the restaurant Ma Maison, Puck embraced California cuisine (via Wolfgang Puck). And the rest, as they say, is history.

Puck recently added to his roster a new restaurant in his native Austria. Located in the arrivals hall in Terminal 3 at Vienna International Airport (via Airports International), the 700-square-meter (approximately 7,500 square feet) Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar offers a variety of the chef's signature dishes, including pizzas and Austrian specialties. Additionally, the restaurant isn't just open to passengers, but also to the general public,  with validated parking available in designated car parks for patrons whose bills exceed €20 (about $21), according to The Moodie Davitt Report.

Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar's opening is symbolic of the culmination of an emotional journey for Puck. At its grand opening gala, Puck described the experience (via FTN News): "I'm very excited to open this small restaurant in the place where my journey began. It's my hope that everyone enjoys what we have prepared for this new location. It's quite special to me."