Phillippe looks toward the screen, not the stove

Can you imagine Ryan Phillippe saying, "You want fries with that?"

Apparently, neither could he.

Europe is now calling the actor, not the Delaware restaurant scene.

It seems that Phillippe has punted plans for a First State eatery. At least for the time being.

In August 2006, my colleague Ryan Cormier reported that Phillippe, who grew up in Penn Acres near New Castle, would be the primary investor in a new restaurant and martini bar slated to open in Wilmington. Phillippe's partner was to be his brother-in-law, Grimly Foret. (He's married to Phillippe's younger sister Lindsay.)

Phillippe, and his then wife, Reese Witherspoon (pictured at the New York screening of the Clint Eastwood directed film "Flags Of Our Fathers" on Oct. 16, 2006) visited Wilmington in July 2006 and scouted locations for the restaurant.

Phillippe's mother, Susan, told The News Journal that her son was looking forward to bringing some of the glitz of Los Angeles to Wilmington.

"Anything that they are going to do is going to be really happening," the Hockessin resident said. "He's really excited about it."

But, then, a funny thing called life seemingly got in the way of those plans. Phillippe and the Oscar winning actress split up.

Witherspoon cited irreconcilable differences when she filed for divorce on Nov. 8, 2006. The couple's divorce was finalized on Oct. 5, according to court documents.

Cormer checked in with Foret in December 2006 to see if the restaurant plans were still on. He said they still have not found the right spot.

"I'm hoping I'll know more in January," Foret said. "It's all about finding the perfect location and, for some reason, it's eluding us."

But now, it looks like the restaurant plans have been called off, according to an email Cormier received after he asked about the eatery's progress. Foret, a former waiter, is now with RE/MAX of Wilmington. Here's the email he sent to Cormier:

Hi Ryan,

Sorry, it took so long to respond. Currently, I am concentrating on my real estate career and family. Lindsay and I now have a 4½ month old daughter that we devote every moment we can to. I know that Ryan will leave to film in Europe later this month.

Hope you're doing well!

Best regards,

Grimly