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Famed Four Loko Chef Serves Up Sandwich Deal

By Patrick Hedlund | December 20, 2010 9:01pm

By Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo News Editor

LOWER EAST SIDE — The bad-boy chef known for a controversial Four Loko drinks special traded booze for baos Monday, serving up more than a thousand of his signature steamed bun sandwiches as part of a special anniversary deal.

Eddie Huang — who made headlines last month for promoting an all-you-can-drink deal on the recently outlawed malt beverage, forcing him to shutter his four-month-old Orchard Street Taiwanese restaurant Xiao Ye — celebrated the one-year anniversary of his other eatery BaoHaus on Rivington Street by offering up select baos for $1 apiece.

"It's a party," Huang said from the packed restaurant on Monday night, as he mingled with patrons in the tiny restaurant space, which dished up at least 1,050 sandwiches throughout the day. "We want to celebrate the anniversary, and didn't need to make any money."

Huang became a fan favorite for refusing to stop selling Four Loko last month, leading to multiple raids by the State Liquor Authority that drove him to close Xiao Ye for fear he might have his liquor license revoked.

"The SLA didn't like it, but almost 400 people came that night," he said of buzz over his Four Loko special. "I fought the SLA, but the SLA won."

Huang said he will start shooting a reality television show about his food life on Tuesday, but wanted to treat his loyal customers to a deal on his popular sandwiches as way to show love for his patrons.

"I'm the people's champ," he joked while enjoying a few baos of his own. "I think we just keep it real. We have a lot of care for our product and our customers."

As for the Four Loko, Huang hasn't given up on it just yet.

"I got four cases at my apartment," he said.