Columnist Muriel Stevens: Aeroflot rushin’ for passengers

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.

Aeroflot-Russian Airlines recently introduced new luxury services designed to attract more U.S. passengers as well the international traveling community. Speaking at a news conference at the Sofitel hotel in Los Angeles on June 10, Evgeny Bachurin, commercial director of Aeroflot-Russian Airlines, outlined the many changes taking place.

There is a new approach in service that includes menu choices for business and first class. Food is available from an a la carte menu and is cooked onboard. A bonus program is being offered in the United States with a new range of benefits "that have been designed with our best customers in mind," as the company states.

Sounds like a friendlier version of "From Russia with Love."

Twinkle Twinkle flats from Kafi D.: Kafi D. has two passions in life, handbags and shoes. Kafi Dublin is the hip designer and fanciful force behind the contemporary handbag line Chickbags by Kafi D. But don't expect to find these in-demand handbags in Las Vegas. They're available in stores only in Manhattan.

Now there are Chickshoes by Kafi D. Kafi, a blithe spirit who was inspired to create sequined ballet shoes during a weekly visit to her favorite Goodwill outlet where she saw a "tacky sequined top," the kind of top she would never wear.

But she would wear sequined shoes. So she made a pair for herself. She knew she had a hit when she was stopped on the street more than 10 times by young women who wanted to know where to to buy these "twinkle twinkle" ballet flats.

Unlike her handbag line, Chickshoes were available here at Urban Outfitters at Mandalay Place, the only Urban Outfitters store in Nevada. They didn't last long. Chickshoes are sold at Anthropologie stores, but Anthropologie at The District won't be completed until late fall.

Suggested retail price for Chickshoes is $60. A visit to www.kafid.com will get you Chickbags and Chickshoes, then you can sparkle, too.

"The New Restaurant Entrepreneur": Kep Sweeney wrote "The New Restaurant Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Restaurant Deal-Making and Other Tales From the Culinary Trenches" (Dearborn Trade Publishing, $22.95) "to make sure that aspiring restaurateurs do all their homework before the doors to the bistro, cafe or coffee shop even opens."

It is the best book I've read on the subject. Written from the heart, Sweeney describes both the bad and good restaurant challenges that made him an expert adviser.

Kep Sweeney is the founder of Acceleron Group, a financial services company that works exclusively in the hospitality industry. Before forming his own company Sweeney was a restaurant industry analyst for Salomon Bros., as well as an award-winning chef and restaurateur. With his family, Sweeney recently moved to Las Vegas. He is currently on a national book tour. Look for this must-read at all major bookstores.

Knowing when to fold 'em -- Jordans retire Rosemary's at The Rio: Wendy and Michael Jordan's Rosemary's restaurant at The Rio closed Sunday night. It was a tough decision for the husband and wife chefs, who also own ever-popular Rosemary's Restaurant on West Sahara Avenue. More about the Jordans on Friday.