Kenny Tessels and Mannequin Barbe Q Will Fight for First Amendment Rights

As a former Hollywood actor and script writer, Kenny Tessel is no stranger to fame; but his most recent celebrity comes as a result of the spotlight shining on Barbe Q, the spokes..... mannequin for his restaurant, KT's Barbecue. Standing on the sidewalk outside each day, Barbe uses quiet sex appeal to beckon passersby inside to taste what Cincinnati Magazine named the city's Best Barbecue a few years back.

Barbe Q is a mannequin, a fact you would think might limit her potential; yet she's been quite successful at using her appeal to increase the restaurant's sales during these tough economic times. While quietly making a case for KT's Barbecue, blonde-haired Barbe has made a national name for herself, carrying Tessel right back into the spotlight he abandoned years ago.

Chef To The Stars

Inspired by his passion for cooking, Kenny Tessel took a detour from his celebrity path to become a "Chef to the stars," a career that had him working as a personal chef to a few Hollywood notables, including the Dean Martin Family and comedienne, Roseanne Barr. After returning home to Cincinnati, he decided to share his love of barbecue and home style cooking with the local crowd; so he opened KT's Barbecue restaurant in Reading, a small city just north of the Cincinnati city limits.

Sex Sells Barbecue-

As with many restaurants, Kenny Tessel's sales had declined, down 40% from previous year; so he decided on Barbe Q as a voluptuous solution to draw attention to potential customers. Clad in Daisy Dukes and a bikini top that some say revealed a bit too much of her best assets, Barbe Q made her first appearance in April.

Sex sells everything, even barbecue; and she proved it. With Barbe standing in front of KT's restaurant and no other changes, sales increased significantly; and she won the hearts of passersby in the process. Barbe Q became a local celebrity and media attention followed.

Barbe Ordered to Cover Up-

With all that attention, Barbe Q became the focus of City of Reading Design and Review Board members who decided she was a sign, and, therefore, subject to Reading sign guidelines. Kenny Tessel received a citation; and on May 13, with Barbe Q by his side, (dressed a bit more demurely in a long tee) he appeared before the five man board.

While Barbe stood quietly, Kenny Tessel made their case; but the board was not impressed. They issued a permit for his 'sign' but with restrictions, one which required her to have an actual sign with words, another which decreed Barbe must cover up. Tessel's attorney has filed an appeal giving the board 20 days to reconsider that position. In the meantime, news sources like CNN and Good Morning America have spread Barbe and Ken's story nationwide.

A First Amendment Right-

As required by the Reading Review Board, Barbie now has a sign that hangs from a cord around her neck, but Tessels has not yet complied with the order to dress her in an outfit that covers her a bit more. "She's not in a thong. She's not naked," he told Greg Reese in a recent videotaped interview.

Standing in front of his restaurant just before the lunchtime rush, passing drivers tooted their horns and called out to Barbe while Tessel explained his position. "They want her in a bikini top that basically covers all of her boobs," he said. Tessel believes Barbe's right to dress how she pleases is a First Amendment freedom of speech issue he's willing "to take her all the way to the Supreme Court."

Barbe is getting all the attention, but KT''s real live waitresses, Jennifer Dove and Marci Bein, who refers to herself as "Marci Q," stand behind their coworker 100 percent. Marci says "Business has picked up and Barbe has been real helpful." Jennifer has worked at KT's for two years, "Follow your dreams," she says. "Kenny did and he's a success."

Barbe had no comment.