Britney: I'm a Slave 4 Food 
Fried okra. Vegetarian hominy stew. Sushi with chili paste. Who could ask for more?
Well, Britney Spears might have asked for better weather, and maybe a tad more star power as the "Oops" girl christened her new Southern-tinged-fusion-something restaurant, Nyla, Thursday night in New York City.
The short version of the red-carpet report is that the rains came and J.Lo didn't. An even shorter version, in the words of one TV producer, is that the evening was a "disaster."
"As far as doing an opening in a monsoon, it went pretty well," said Nyla publicist Ron Berkowitz. "Obviously, the rain kept some people away."
Britney, though, had a fine time.
"I am so excited," the 20-year-old popster told reporters on her way into the bash. "This is going to be my new hangout."
Although the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Cher were reportedly on Brit's guest list, they didn't make Nyla their hangout on Thursday. Instead, fans who braved a powerful thunderstorm to watch the beautiful people gather for free food got treated to the magical sights of old-school popster Debbie Gibson, porn star Jenna Jamieson, ex-Big Apple mayor Rudy Giuliani and the most magical of man of them all, David Copperfield.
"I've had a lot of requests to make the weather better," Copperfield joked to the Associated Press.
Copperfield apparently also was powerless to make Spears appear at her own party. According to reports, the singer turned impresario was an hour late for her scheduled strut down the red carpet.
One fan didn't think Spears' eventual appearance was worth the wait. "I thought she's at least wave," 18-year-old college student Kieran Sells told the New York Daily News.
Maybe Britney was just too anxious to get inside and start a-sampling her food. (Something which, according to the New York Times, she hadn't done as of last weekend.)
Britney named Nyla after her, like, two favorite places in the world, New York (the "NY") and her home state of Louisiana (the "La"). She had originally intended to call it Pinky's--her nickname by ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake--but she dumped that name about the same time she dumped the 'N Syncer.
It is, according to no less than its famed owner, "a hip restaurant with a Southern flair."
It is also, we're guessing, the only eatery on the isle of Manhattan where one can dine on both Poor Boy sushi rolls ($12 an order) and linguine ($16). On Thursday, Britney said she planned to chow down on Southern fried chicken ($16), complete with corn, potato Johnny cakes and vegetable slaw. (The side of fried okra, in case you were wondering, will run you $5.)
Art-direction-wise, Nyla, based in Manhattan's Dylan Hotel, reflects Britney's favored color palate of cranberry, orchid and "deep mango."
"We wanted to create an environment that embodies Britney's image today--of a just-blooming flower," interior designer Jay Haverson seriously said in a press release.
The Britney bistro opened for "tastings" (that is, previews) on June 14. Friday is the first day the paying public can get in, although Berkowitz noted that's not going to happen easily. "It's pretty booked up."
With Nyla, the just-blooming flower joins the ranks of celebrity restaurateurs, including Cameron Diaz (Bambu in Miami) and the aforementioned J. Lo (Madre's in Pasadena, California).
When asked Thursday why she chose to go the restaurant route herself, Spears replied: "Why not?"
Source and Image Credit:
Msn Entertainment 
E! Online News: I'm A Slave 4 Food 
seeing that picture makes me want to visit Nyla!!!LOL
