Celebrity chef Todd English‘s marriage plans with Erica Wang crumbled under the stress of running his restaurant empire during the economic crisis, sources told Page Six.
The Post first revealed that English abruptly canceled their planned Oct. 3 wedding, leaving Wang heartbroken. Sources now tell us that English had become absorbed in work as he fought to stay on top.
English recently closed three restaurants — Olives in Aspen and Washington, DC, and Fish Club in Seattle. He also gave up control of the Libertine in downtown’s Gild Hall Hotel.
A source told us, “Todd was freaking out about his restaurant profits being down during the summer and was working even harder. He was under a lot of stress.”
English hinted at difficulties last March when he told MSNBC.com, “This economic crisis has forced me to take a second look.”
But his spokesman tells us, “Todd’s business is expanding. Thanks to great food and free advertisements like this item, his restaurants are vibrant, full and fun . . . Classifying his 18-location empire as anything but successful is simply wrong.” English is said to be launching six new places, including Chelsea’s Juliet Supperclub.
According to his friends, the real reason the relationship with Wang went sour was her behavior. One pal said, “If Erica thinks it ended because of his business, then she’s wrong. It has more to do with him walking around with a black eye, and her calling his kids ‘spoiled little pigs.’ ”
Recently, English filed assault charges against Wang for allegedly slashing his face with the edge of a wristwatch.
Wang has denied any abuse. Her spokesman, Davidson Goldin, said: “I am not even going to bring this question to her [the ‘spoiled pigs’ comment] as Erica is done talking to the press. No good ever comes of talking about people’s children.”