Top Chef -- would you eat in their restaurants?
I would definitely eat in Stephanie's (she's trying to find backing for a new place in Chicago.) She seems like she'll have staying power. As much as I didn't like Lisa's personality, her food looked very interesting, her starter and dessert especially.
I probably would not try Richard's because I thought he seemed more into food trends and less into his own signature.
-
-
I would never want to consume anything prepared by Ilan Hall, winner from a prior season. Aside from being a rather (extremely) mean spirited individual, I got the impression that he would serve just about anything and cut corners on a whim. I simply wouldnt trust him handling anything for human consumption.
-
I've eaten at Richard's restaurant, Home, here in Atlanta twice - and as recently as last Saturday. You might expect his dishes to be heavy on the nitrogen and foams but they are not. My recent visit included apps of oysters with pearls (pearls being nitrogen frozen tabasco dippin' dots), arugula salad with beets, and crabcake with smoked mayo. The entrees were a sous vide pork belly with coffee bbq sauce and a tuna loin with pomme frites. Desert was a small pecan pie with chocolate chips. All in all, it was very delicious. I'd definitely go again. I've been lucky enough to meet Richard a couple times and I've found him a nice, agreeable guy with no trace of ego. I'd say that Top Chef did a good job of portraying his skills and only sold him short on the nice guy stuff.
Mike Fincham
www.bbqgeek.com -
Season 4:
I would definitely try Stephanie's restaurant--what always impressed me about her is that she cooks ingredients perfectly. Nothing is more disappointing that having a dish with a great concept and ingredients but then have the seasoning botched or the fish overcooked, etc. Plus she is very creative and surprised the judges more than once. I want those sweetbreads!Richard's menu looks great, spins on Southern classics would be lots of fun and I am sure he does it well.
Antonia--not so much, I don't need to spend that much on her type of food or eat in West Hollywood at all, there is too much great cheap chow in LA.
Lisa--same deal, I think she probably cooks Asian food well, but Mai House is an expensive take on classic Vietnamese food, I would rather seek out the real stuff in Chinatown, the boroughs, or other cities with Vietnamese populations (Philly, Minneapolis, the west coast).
Dale--if he opens his own place, I will definitely try. Buddakan NYC--not interested in paying huge $$$ for decor, and I have heard mixed reviews of the food experience.
So far people are only discussing Season 4 chefs, so I will mention a few others...
Harold's Perilla has been on my list to try, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
I would love to taste food made by Hung, but again, have not gotten over to the place he is working, and I am not even sure if that is a permanent gig for him...if he opens his own place I will definitely be there.
I'll take a look at Ilan's tapas truck if I happen to walk past it, but I am making no promises and I am not going out of my way to find it.
I was intrigued by the menu at Dave's reasonably priced Hell's Kitchen restaurant Crave, but a friend just went there and said that everything was too salty. But I still might give it a try, maybe just some snacks at the bar (my friend said that the bar food looked more promising).
If I ever happen to be in Dallas, I will certainly try Casey's and Tre's places (aren't they both in Dallas?). As I recall they looked great.
Brian--upscale seafood chains don't do it for me. In SD I gorge myself on fish tacos 24-7.
›4 Replies-
re: kenito799
Phaedrus
Jun 19, 2008 06:52 AM
Actually The Oceanaire in Seattle is very very good, couldn't vouch for the one in SD, plus I was on expense account when I went there. And I'm with you, when in SD, fish tacos every day and there are so many good seafood places there that don't cost an arm and a leg.
-
-
-
re: alysonlaurel
teamuse
Sep 23, 2008 10:43 AM
Went to Perilla last Saturday and loved it! The portions were generous, the prices were perfect and everything was very good, imaginative, but nothing crazy- based on the dishes he made on the show, I saw a lot of the same style in his food at the restaurant. If Harold had poked his head out from the kitchen (if he was there) it would have been perfect. The staff was very nice as well- an all around great experience.
I've also eaten Marcel from Top Chef fame' food, though not in a restaurant setting, and I would love to taste Stephanie, Richard's cooking at their respective restaurants.
-
-
-
-
-
-
re: LindaWhit
-
re: goodhealthgourmet
LindaWhit
Jun 30, 2008 07:20 PM
I find it interesting when someone drops a post like "NEVER" in response to the OP's question and even when someone asks "why not?", there is no response. A "never" response without a reason why just doesn't cut it, IMO. Because it's a "TV reality chef"? Because you hate the chef? Because you don't like the food you've seen prepared on the show? Those are all reasons - whether anyone other than the poster thinks they're valid or not doesn't matter - but at least a reason is given. It ends up being a non-valid response without *some* type of explanation.
-
-
-
-
chicgail
Jun 16, 2008 06:50 AM
I've eaten at Stephanie's old restaurant, Scylla. Just a few blocks from my house, it was a lovely two-story restaurant, the food focused on fish and was consistent and excellent, and the price-point reasonable (entrees in the $20-30 range).
Stephanie was often in the front of the house greeting people, seeing how their meals were, and setting the tone for the whole place.
I look forward to trying her new restaurant.
I would also love to try Richard's place for its creativity and Antonia's for her high-end comfort style. I might also be interested in checking out Dale's, but he was a little inconsistent and frankly volatile for my taste.
-
Chew on That
Jun 13, 2008 08:27 AM
I would definitely eat at either Stephanie or Richard's restaurants...ESPECIALLY Stephanie since she is in Chicago and so am I! I am SO excited to have her in our city!
-
Was looking over things at the TC site and I stumbled across this which tends to fit in nicely with this thread:
http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/seaso...
Demonstration (non-participatory I assume that means) cooking classes and three course tastings with some TC favs from all four seasons held at the CIA in NYC.
›14 Replies-
re: HarryK
goodhealthgourmet
Jun 12, 2008 12:51 PM
ok, so at least now i know where i'll be spending my monday evenings this summer!
-
re: goodhealthgourmet
LindaWhit
Jun 12, 2008 01:04 PM
Are you going to sign up for any of them? If you do, you must let us know how it is! (July 21st and August 18th look particularly good. <vbg>)
Love that they put two of the dishiest cheftestants (from a female perspective, of course), Sam & Tre, in the photo.
-
-
-
-
-
re: LindaWhit
goodhealthgourmet
Jun 13, 2008 01:41 PM
linda, don't DO that to me! i thought you meant they had announced that season 5 was going to be in boston...and i'm pulling for NYC.
-
re: goodhealthgourmet
LindaWhit
Jun 13, 2008 04:15 PM
LOL! ghg, I sincerely doubt they'd come to Boston for the next season of TC. While we finally have WF, so that sponsorship could continue (and lord knows we have Glad products out the wazoo up here as well!), and we do have nationally recognized chefs as guest judges (although not as many as NYC), and they could probably stay in a WAY COOL Beacon Hill brownstone <g>, I think TPTB would definitely choose NYC over Boston any day.
I suspect they might announce where the next TC is going to be at the end of the reunion show next week?
-
-
re: LindaWhit
They have the dates on the site now...
http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/seaso...
Looks like they cancelled the first four stops (including Boston).
-
-
-
re: dockhl
LindaWhit
Jun 19, 2008 08:06 AM
I think the asterisk would indicate a sold out show. Above the first 4 shows, it says "all 3pm shows have been cancelled." So perhaps Jericho, NY, Boston, Philly and Pittsburgh were all 3pm shows.
It's a little confusing the way it's set up. And still no click-throughs for various cities.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
re: LindaWhit
goodhealthgourmet
Jun 12, 2008 03:37 PM
i'm honestly considering it...i think it would be a hoot. i'll have to take another look at the schedule & see what might work.
-
-
-
-
I have already eaten in Richard's resaturant in Atlanta. The food was great - fresh ingredients, interesting combos and plays on food (fried green tomatoes and ranch ice cream), and tasty.
Check out the menu on-line: http://www.heretoserverestaurants.com...
I was there the last week of April and can't wait to go back.
›17 Replies-
-
re: soupkitten
If Richard did a play on a moon pie, the judges wouldn't have 'gotten' it.
But it would have been a wonderful taste sensation, by the time he got it tweaked.
I don't remember Stephanie's food. And with Antonia, I get the poached egg image. Lisa...my mind can't get beyond her sour face. not a good thing at all. -
-
re: LindaWhit
agreed! we all have to realize that miller lites just *do* cost $6 in west hollywood, but looking at the 2 items you can get at richard's resto vs the one at antonia's, for the price. . . richard gets it for value & inventiveness, imho, with bonus points for a strong sense of place/local foods.
-
re: soupkitten
MeAndroo
Jun 12, 2008 03:30 PM
Seems like everything costs more in West Hollywood.
I think Foxtail is considered a supper club or lounge, as opposed to a proper resto. Almost all the press I've read about it refer a great deal to the "scene" and weird seating arrangements. Seems like more of a place to be seen than a place to eat.
Then again, I'm trying to taste Antonia food for myself before I judge.
-
re: soupkitten
I don't think you can compare Atlanta prices to Hollywood. You know what they say in real estate- its all about location. Foxtail prices are in range for LA (I lived there last year). Now which menu sounds better if someone was paying your way? I think both are appetizing, just depends what I was in the mood for. Although I love Richards quotations, I imagine those are "plays on" dumplings, short ribs, etc! Can't wait to see the menu for Stephanies new place!
-
re: jme1beachbum
In her web chat in the Chicago Tribune, Stephanie mentions that she will be posting updates on her new restaurant on a website she has set up.
-
-
re: Phaedrus
-
-
-
re: AMFM
LindaWhit
Jun 16, 2008 06:27 AM
How very interesting to read this:
Did the cameras affect your performance, or were you able to shut them out?
"It definitely took a few days to shut them out. But you are a little bit conscious that they're there. You're thinking a little more about what you're going to say. "
I guess Lisa didn't feel the need to think a little more about what she ended up saying. ;-)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
re: soupkitten
I thought the same thing -- it's rare that I see so many things on one menu that I'd like to try, and I was also tickled by the moon pie. (And the "Boulliablais".) Raised in the south, now in New England, so there may be some nostalgia talking. Plus, having gotten to "know" Richard over the past couple months, I have an idea of how to interpret his menu, which probably helps.
-
-
Phaedrus
Jun 12, 2008 06:41 AM
If I may Brendastarlet, piggy back on this discussion. Which one of the contestants would you like to have a conversation with?
I would very much like to pick Richard's brain about his philosophy of cooking and he has shown me the most intellectual curiosity and knowledge. To me he has thought through a lot of things but is still working out a lot of things in his mind. I wouldn't mind talking to Stephanie either, just to see where her brain is at as far as ideas are concerned. those two seem to have the most cogent points of view out of all of them. The rest seem to be mouthing set cliches.
›7 Replies-
re: Phaedrus
weinstein5
Jun 12, 2008 07:15 AM
The thing I enjoyed most aboiut stephanie and richard - many times when they had won when had you cooked this before they said no - which to me shows true talent
-
re: weinstein5
Phaedrus
Jun 12, 2008 07:22 AM
That was a thing that bugged me about the whole Judges Table. Padma always seem to be asking that question. She may cursorily ask all of them for all I know, but the juxtaposition of the answers seem to point definitively at Stephanie and Richard and to a certain lesser extent Dale as the original thinkers, yet at the JT discussions, yet they never seem to bring that up as a criteria for judgment.
-
-
-
re: Phaedrus
goodhealthgourmet
Jun 12, 2008 07:50 AM
i'd love to talk to both steph & richard.
steph is obviously sweet, but she also clearly has a unique & creative palate [as evidenced by her lamb dish in the finale]. i think it would be great to talk to her about her process in creating some of these unique flavor combinations.
richard is just a rock star, i'd love to pick his brain. his one-liners throughout the season had me laughing, and he has a fascinating mind that clearly never slows down. plus, he seems to be a genuinely nice guy. i'm not gonna lie, i developed a little crush on him as the season wore on...faux-hawk and all ;)
as for eating in their restaurants, i'll be sure to track down steph's food if she's cooking the next time i'm in chicago...and when i finally get back to ATL for a long-overdue visit, trail-blais is the first reservation i'm making [followed by rathbun's & joël].
i might try mai house at some point if enough fellow hounds give it a thumbs-up, but i'm not racing over there anytime soon. and as for antonia's food at foxtail, it's nowhere near the top of my list. there are too many good restaurants in LA now, and i'm not into the trendy weho hipster scene. if i was still living there, i might eventually check it out, but now that it's a 3,000 mile trek? no thanks.
-
-
i disagree on richard. i'd eat at his restaurant *first,* if he and steph opened up on the same block in my town (and i'd head to steph's the next week). i would love to have eaten richard's pork & beans variation or the 19 component starter from tramonto's. i wouldn't go to lisa's restaurant, her flavors seemed like nothing new, and most of her execution was off for the entire season. i'd rather eat twice somewhere else. i would *not* go for a spike-burger or whatever he's selling in d.c. i probably would go to antonia's restaurant, i just wouldn't *run* there right away. since we're talking hypothetically, i'd also pick dale's (imaginary) resto over lisa's-- maybe even andrew's over lisa's.
-
I would try Richard's, partly because I have a sister in ATL, and thus have reason to visit the area anyway, and I think the stuff he'd put on a menu (after time to tweak and refine) would be fantastic -- meaning both excellent/delicious and inspired by fantasy ;-) I don't see him being trendy as much as loving to learn and play and see if the new gadgets produce a better/more interesting quality.
I'd also be more than happy to eat at Stephanie's, but would have less opportunity logistically. I'm more likely to try some of her recipes at home.
›1 Reply-
re: momjamin
ted
Jun 12, 2008 07:43 AM
I have eaten at Richard's current restaurant and we had a very good experience. The offerings at Home aren't as "out there" as at some of his previous gigs. But there are molecular touches here and there that add interest. I think that's a good thing- seems like the customer base hasn't been there in the past to keep an all-adventurous menu afloat.
My only qualm is that others have had not as good an experience. We were there on what turned out to be the night before his child was born. Good friends were there a week later (not sure if chef was in the house) and thought the service and food weren't all that.
We were really pulling for him on Top Chef and look forward to eating at Home again.
-
-
Phaedrus
Jun 12, 2008 06:30 AM
I would like to try Stephanie, Dale and Richard's restaurants.
I am curious about Antonia just because I want very badly to dispel my own prejudices about her cooking.
Lisa I am leery about, will the Lisa from the finals show up or will Lisa from the rest of the season show up?
›12 Replies-
re: Phaedrus
When Stephanie opens her new restaurant in Chicago, I will make it a point to go there. When we visit Atlanta (which will probably be fairly often as my step-daughter is moving there in a few months), I will make it a point to visit Trail-Blais. Before last night I probably would have said that I wouldn't be interested in going to any restaurant with Lisa as the chef, but she did put out some good looking dishes in the finale part II (although I'm still put off by her attitude) so I might have to rethink that position.
-
re: Phaedrus
LindaWhit
Jun 12, 2008 07:22 AM
I would also go to Stephanie's, Dale's, and Richard's restaurants. Lisa's flavors just don't interest me all that much. Antonia - didn't get too much of an idea of who she was and what her food was - more like "home cooking"?
And Andrew and Spike were just all over the place and have no idea of what their food might be all about.
-
re: LindaWhit
goodhealthgourmet
Jun 12, 2008 07:32 AM
here's the menu for foxtail, where antonia cooks:
http://losangeles.menupages.com/resta...
-
-
-
re: DanaB
applehome
Jul 1, 2008 11:12 PM
But everybody liked it, including Colicchio who obviously wanted to hate it. It wasn't that much of a risk for her since it's something she had experience with - obviously there had been good feedback before. I'd definitely try it. I would imagine that not eating food from an experienced chef because they might try something weird would really cut down on your options.
-
-
