Any cable aficionado knows that the AMC series Mad Men is much loved, in part for its meticulous historical accuracy — which made last week’s Le Cirque gaffe all the more egregious. To recap: in 1968, Christina Hendricks’ character Joan Harris offered to make reservations for two at Le Cirque. Unfortunately, unless Joan had a time machine, she wouldn’t make it to dinner, since Le Cirque opened in 1974 — six years later.

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However, famously clubby restaurateur Sirio Maccioni has used this opportunity to not only promote the hell out of the historic restaurant, but also to do what he does best: hit on beautiful women.

“If I had known she wanted a reservation specifically at Le Cirque, I would have opened our French restaurant sooner!” he told The Hollywood Reporter. 

An avowed fan of Mad Men, the 81-year-old proprietor charmingly continued: “While it’s true that Le Cirque did not exist in 1968 — we opened at The Mayfair Hotel in 1974 — our restaurant’s distinct culture was spawned from the

influential and fashionable people of the Mad Men era. At the time, I was working as a maitre d’ at The Colony, where I catered to many politicians, Hollywood celebrities, executives, artists, writers and musicians, and I would have been delighted to welcome the intelligent and beautiful Ms. Joan Harris and her guest for dinner.”

(We also find it hilarious that Maccioni’s publicist confirmed that yes, “[Sirio] loves beautiful women, that time and that period.”)

Since Joan Harris is a just fictional character while Christina Hendricks is a real-life beautiful woman, Maccioni extended an invitation to the actress to dine at Le Cirque. “We will craft a special 1968-style French menu for her and her guests,” he offered. “My philosophy is that one must always give a lady what she wants. That never goes out of style.”

You would, you sly dog.

[THR]

Tags: Le Cirque, Mad Men