628848 Wed Jun 17 13:56:39 -0700 2009 53 33 Food Media and News 0 4782158 I thought it might be handy to have a single thread to comment on post-Top Chef news/appearances by former "cheftestants." To start: Fabio is hosting the "Garlic Showdown" at the Gilroy Garlic Festival (July 24-26, 2009; the "Showdown" is the 26th). http://gilroygarlicfestival.com/?p=207 Wed Jun 17 13:56:39 -0700 2009 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4782639 And Lee Anne apparently has a new gig as "Executive Chef of Kogi BBQ’s east coast operations." http://midtownlunch.com/2009/06/08/top-chefs-lee-anne-wong-to-bring-kogi-bbq-truck-to-nyc-by-end-of-summer-or-tomorrow/ Wed Jun 17 16:33:59 -0700 2009 4782158 52642 intuitive eggplant 1 4783681 I read in the Improper Bostonian that Tiffani Faison is a sous chef at O Ya. I saw Hung Huynh hanging out in the kitchen at the apps station at WD-50 one night in April. Thu Jun 18 05:11:05 -0700 2009 4782158 18368 youngho 1 4784561 Fabio is also doing a 16-day Webathon at Bravo's site http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/the-dish (scroll down for the two Fabio videos so far) where he's creating dishes that are derivative of Italy's central region, the area devastated by the April earthquake. And doesn't he have a book or show coming out soon? Thu Jun 18 10:05:50 -0700 2009 4782158 10532 LindaWhit 2 4784611 Fabio and LeeAnne are proof that winning Top Chef isn't as important as lasting deep into the competition so that you develop name recognition and an attractive TV persona, or as important as being seen as both talented and good to work with. LeeAnne has done a lot more with her fourth place finish than Tiffani with her appearance in the top two. Not to mention more than Hung and Illan have with their wins. Only one person can win Top Chef, but if you're smart, you can use the opportunity to make connections in the business that will do you just as well. Thu Jun 18 10:18:15 -0700 2009 4784561 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 4784668 Exactly. I have more respect for Fabio, Lee Anne, Dale Levitski, et al for using their exposure to do something else and get restaurants open. Even Dave Martin had his West Side restaurant that, I guess due to location and the economy, had to close. Some more info re: where are they now? from the NYTimes back in May: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/nyregion/thecity/03side.html Looks like Manuel is opening a restaurant as EC very soon. Thu Jun 18 10:30:43 -0700 2009 4784611 10532 LindaWhit 3 4786417 I agree. Except for Season 1, I can't remember who actually won. Once you get down to four or five really good cooks, it's sort of irrelevant who won. Harold was an exception. I was really rooting for him. When you see someone do something amazing, it really doesn't matter if they go all the way. Hosea may have won, but Carla really knocked me out with her Krew dishes. Jeff was incredible as well. I would go to their restaurants first among that batch. Thu Jun 18 21:34:47 -0700 2009 4784611 104864 Pete Oldtown 3 4964767 Hung has been exec chef'ing at Solo in Manhattan (kosher), with plans to open his own restaurant in Manhattan soon while maintaining a consultancy role w/ Solo. Seems pretty productive to me. Fri Aug 21 04:45:42 -0700 2009 4784611 14629 aser 1 4845040 Not a contestant, but definitely part of the show: the house where the cheftestants lived in San Francisco is up for rent at a cool $12,500 a month. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ontheblock/detail?entry_id=42883 Thu Jul 09 19:55:48 -0700 2009 4782158 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 4845665 $2500 per person if you fill all 5 BRs. Holy crap! (quotingFrank Barone)....But I have to say the BEST comment in response to this part of the article/ad: "...is described as having "gorgeous designer detail throughout" and being walkable to Chestnut St "for coffee, numerous restaurants, delis, shopping and entertainment" is this one: "I've always wanted a house that could walk. If it doesn't need a leash I could finish my breakfast while it takes me to work on Chestnut." :-D Fri Jul 10 06:12:59 -0700 2009 4845040 10532 LindaWhit 1 4847621 Re: Brian Malarkey, the Oceanaire chain filed Ch. 11 this week. Although I’ve read conflicting reports, according to the first link below, the San Diego branch (where Malarkey is) is still open. The second link is to a lengthier piece from a Seattle perspective, where another Oceanaire store closed. I can personally confirm that the Cincinnati Oceanaire has closed, although it was a little disconcerting to see several fellows in bus boy uniforms dodging downtown traffic from the closed venue into an alley across the street carrying bus trays filled with booze the day after the news was announced . . . http://www.hotel-online.com/News/2009_Jul_08/k.SDP.1247071258.html http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/allyoucaneat/2009427773_oceanaire_seafood_room_files_b.html?CFID=611764&CFTOKEN=49405800 Fri Jul 10 15:26:08 -0700 2009 4782158 52642 intuitive eggplant 2 4922153 The San Diego branch of Oceanaire is(was?) the #2 performing unit in the chain. Brian Malarkey is currently on paternity leave and not cheffing there. He says he will return once his 6 weeks of leave are over, but there is strong speculation he, and the SD unit of Oceaniare, are history. Too bad, the Oceanaire in SD is really good and is(was?) well run, plus it has one of the best happy hours downtown. Thu Aug 06 06:38:47 -0700 2009 4847621 10506 DiningDiva 1 4852409 Spike Mendelsohn was the subject of the "A Night Out With..." feature in today's NY Times Sunday Styles section. apparently he's planning to open a pizzeria next door to his burger joint in DC... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/fashion/12night.html?_r=1&ref=fashion Sun Jul 12 20:08:48 -0700 2009 4782158 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4862379 Spike is all around town in DC. He's constantly doing little events. Every Sunday he grills at the Capitol Sky hotel poolside. He even does Jewish cooking at a local synagogue for holidays like Passover and Hannukah. Wed Jul 15 17:39:28 -0700 2009 4852409 18011 Jacey 1 4852572 Not only is Fabio hosting the Garlic Showdown, but Jamie and Ryan are participating. Sun Jul 12 21:30:20 -0700 2009 4782158 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4859449 Hosea Rosenberg was at the Food & Wine Classic at Aspen, participated in the 21-city Top Chef Tour that ended in June (tho' I don't whether some/most/all cities) and has done some local cooking demonstrations at Colorado Whole Foods and elsewhere. Tue Jul 14 19:50:09 -0700 2009 4782158 54833 ClaireWalter 1 4862209 Eater.com and 92YTribeca are hosting an event called Life After Top Chef with Harold Dieterle, Leah Cohen, and Lee Anne Wong tomorrow (7/16/09) in NYC. No doubt Eater will blog about it afterward for those of us who can’t attend. http://eater.com/archives/2009/07/1_day_countdown_win_tickets_to_eatertop_chef_panel.php#more Wed Jul 15 16:36:16 -0700 2009 4782158 52642 intuitive eggplant 1 4869702 According to one of the new Top Chef Season 6 cheftestant's videos (Michael), Marcel is now his sous chef...although Marcel's MySpace page says sous at The Bazaar. Ahhh - checking out The Dining Room's press page, it looks like Michael Voltaggio (TC6) just joined The Dining Room this past week (July 10), and was EC at The Bazaar prior to that - which would then make sense with him saying Marcel was his sous during the filming. Sat Jul 18 07:52:01 -0700 2009 4782158 10532 LindaWhit 2 5101685 Though Michael Voltaggio is no longer at The Bazaar, Marcel still remains there. I had dinner there two nights ago, and saw him in action in the kitchen...you can see that Wolverine-style hair from a mile away. FYI, food and service was great! Loved The Bazaar by Jose Andres. Wed Oct 14 00:31:28 -0700 2009 4869702 142682 attran99 1 4879488 Saw Hung hangin' out at NYC's Highline Park this past weekend... www.immaculateinfatuation.com Tue Jul 21 21:31:08 -0700 2009 4782158 286629 iFat 1 4882432 Seems Lee Anne is not doing the Kogi cart thing after all. But purportedly she and Harold are each planning new restaurants: http://eater.com/archives/2009/07/heartbreak_kogi_not_coming_to_nyc_anytime_soon.php#more http://www.bravofan.com/top-chefs-leah-cohen-harold-dieterle-and-lee-ann-wong-talk-life-after-reality/ Wed Jul 22 17:41:20 -0700 2009 4782158 52642 intuitive eggplant 1 4920442 The Gorbals??? Perhaps it belongs on the "worst restaurant names" thread... It may be the name of a Glasgow neighborhood but I'm sorry, that's just not appetizing. Sounds more like a disease. http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-dish5-2009aug05,0,7703311.story Wed Aug 05 13:31:47 -0700 2009 4782158 10401 soniabegonia 1 4923984 Spike is getting some free PR from Michelle and Malia Obama: http://gawker.com/5331631/paps-snag-bam-fam-pix Thu Aug 06 15:25:21 -0700 2009 4782158 10059 ChinoWayne 1 4944290 I just read this review for Stefan Ricters new place in Santa Monica - Wow it sounds great - if you open the provided link you will see pictures (and the full review) http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/644411 Thu Aug 13 13:52:03 -0700 2009 4782158 174753 NellyNel 1 4949962 blurb about the soft opening for The Gorbals - Ilan Hall's new LA spot: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/08/last-night-marked-the-private-opening-party-for-top-chef-winner-ilan-halls-new-downtown-restaurant-the-gorbals-last-time-we.html bacon-wrapped matzoh balls? oy. Sat Aug 15 21:37:50 -0700 2009 4782158 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4950535 I wish there was more written about the food then the neighborhood. That article should have been in the real estate section. Sun Aug 16 09:16:06 -0700 2009 4949962 10195 KTinNYC 3 4950797 i took it as an indication that they couldn't come up with anything positive to say about the food! Sun Aug 16 11:44:50 -0700 2009 4950535 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 4951363 Oy vey, bacon wrapped matzoh balls, reported in a story by Jessica "Gelt". That Sam Zell has really done a job on the L.A. Times. Sun Aug 16 16:37:02 -0700 2009 4950797 10059 ChinoWayne 5 4951421 yeah, i laughed out loud when i saw the byline :) but i've gotta say, i do really like the redesign of the LAT website. Sun Aug 16 17:06:07 -0700 2009 4951363 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4951123 Whatever else, The Gorbals is a horrible name for a restaurant. Just the sound of it evokes for me some cheesy '80s film about a family, its furry alien/whatever invaders, and their whacky/gross hijinks. Not appetizing. Sun Aug 16 14:54:10 -0700 2009 4949962 10074 Caitlin McGrath 3 4951365 Or something out of Harry Potter. Sun Aug 16 16:39:50 -0700 2009 4951123 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 4967310 For me, it evokes phlegm. Lots of phlegm. Fri Aug 21 20:07:58 -0700 2009 4951123 44059 daveena 1 4951380 Hosea Rosenberg at Steamboat (Colo) Wine Festival earlier this month. http://culinary-colorado.blogspot.com/2009/08/nytimes-examines-reaity-tv.html Sun Aug 16 16:45:48 -0700 2009 4782158 54833 ClaireWalter 1 4953037 Stephanie Izard came to my town, Ann Arbor to do a cooking demo for a packed crowd. I showed later and did not want to see the demo via a screen in another room. What was the point of seeing some from TV live to see them on TV? (chuckles). She is in the works of starting her own restaurant in Chicago. http://www.stephanieizard.com/ Stephen from season one seems to be still going strong. http://www.stephenasprinio.com/. He seemed so full of himself the whole time. He did not win, but did not seemed not to care. He always dressed the part of success and talked up his food, maybe too much. We see him in later seasons in Miami owning his own wine shop. Mon Aug 17 10:14:37 -0700 2009 4782158 1096685 chefbrian1 1 4978929 I heard Ryan Scott on the radio in SF this morning. He and several other SF-based cheftestants are doing a charity event tomorrow (8/27) at Bloomingdales from 5-7. Wed Aug 26 07:29:35 -0700 2009 4782158 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4979248 On Iron chef America Sunday night, Mark Simmons from season 4 was sous chef for Brad Farmerie. They took on Cat Cora in a Maple battle. Mark seemed very quiet and head down and went to work. They ended up smoking Cora. Wed Aug 26 08:58:41 -0700 2009 4782158 67683 littlestevie 1 5062779 Apparently Fabio is suing a former business partner. According to the suit Fabio and another chef worked their asses off for six months to start the restaurant, and got stiffed out of his salary and the promised cut of the profits. He claims the restaurant's business was grossing $500,000 a year before he was on Top Chef and $4,000,000 after he was on Top Chef. http://www.tmz.com/2009/09/27/top-chef-fabio-viviani-lawsuit/ Sun Sep 27 18:43:05 -0700 2009 4782158 10059 ChinoWayne 2 5074427 More on Fabio, Gawker is reporting today that Bravo will be giving Fabio his own show: http://gawker.com/5372183/its-quite-a-day-to-be-a-bravo-reality-star Fri Oct 02 08:17:02 -0700 2009 5062779 10059 ChinoWayne 3 5074661 Good for Fabio - interesting, no mention of the fallout with whoever he was trying to open the restaurant with earlier this year. But "Viviani will also have a show about his business, as he tries to take over California with his charm and accent. " So he's going to try and open his own restaurant? And Bethany Frankel (from Real Housewives of NYC) will also get her own cooking-type show? "...will showcase her career as a natural foods chef, as well as the Gotham socialite's love life." Fri Oct 02 09:58:50 -0700 2009 5074427 10532 LindaWhit 4 5074891 He can call the Restaurant : "Top Scallops", or "Top Fabio". Fri Oct 02 11:37:32 -0700 2009 5074661 11826 Phaedrus 4 5074953 I don't have time for the New York housewives, only for watching and mocking the Atlanta ones. Fri Oct 02 12:01:19 -0700 2009 5074661 10059 ChinoWayne 1 5063775 I saw Carla doing a cooking demo at a local farmer's market yesterday morning. She was well received by the crowd. Mon Sep 28 08:39:49 -0700 2009 4782158 11814 dinwiddie 2 5074912 Could you give a location, at least? Fri Oct 02 11:46:10 -0700 2009 5063775 223804 Reignking 3 5074945 Carla's located in the DC/BWI area, as is dinwiddie, based on various posts shown in his/her profile. So I'd assume Carla would have done the demo close to home. Fri Oct 02 11:59:25 -0700 2009 5074912 10532 LindaWhit 4 5179957 Yup -- here's Carla a week later at a DC area farmer's market: http://www.gazette.net/stories/10132009/prinnew163639_32554.shtml Fri Nov 13 15:50:18 -0800 2009 5074945 248284 taos 1 5098626 Manuel's - Top Chef Chicago - new restaurant, Travertine, opened a little over a week ago in NYC's Nolita neighborhood. http://www.travertinenyc.com/ Mon Oct 12 20:14:16 -0700 2009 4782158 228245 centralpadiner 1 5099438 Read this in Eater.com awhile back and didn't see it mentioned here - Hung is EC at the renamed Anja Bar (formerly Buddha Bar). http://ny.eater.com/archives/2009/09/buddha_bar_changes_name_hires_top_chefs_hung.php Tue Oct 13 08:30:17 -0700 2009 4782158 10532 LindaWhit 1 5158425 http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/photos/top-chef-where-are-they-now-0 Here is the latest from the Bravo web page. In conjunction with the reunion show. Thu Nov 05 10:45:42 -0800 2009 4782158 11826 Phaedrus 2 5158565 That reminded me of a few I wish had been on the reunion show - Dave and Sam. So it looks like many are doing VERY well for themselves, despite not having won. Thu Nov 05 11:28:54 -0800 2009 5158425 10532 LindaWhit 1 5178870 Dale Levitski has a new gig is Chicago... http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2009/11/dale-levitski-takes-over-as-chef-of-sprout.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chicagotribune%2Fthestew+%28Chicago+Tribune+-+The+Stew%29 Fri Nov 13 09:39:38 -0800 2009 4782158 73013 LabRat 2 5179591 And I see he's still working with his "girlfriend" Sarah Nguyen. :-) (The original chef of Sprout had a veal entree dish that cost $120? Holy SMOKES! LOL) Fri Nov 13 13:15:58 -0800 2009 5178870 10532 LindaWhit 3 5182014 The other holy smokes thing is that Dale is the third executive chef at this restaurant since it first opened 45 DAYS AGO! Sat Nov 14 16:27:21 -0800 2009 5179591 73013 LabRat 3 5185994 I wonder if her co-workers call her the "baby of the house" like in Season 3. That, in my opinion, has been one of the most memorable non-food related lines at Judge's Table. Season 6 might have more seasoned chefs, but the editing this year has really made a good deal of the contestants into cookie cutter personalities. The drama with Robin seem unwarranted too and laced with ageism. Happy cooking! Mon Nov 16 11:52:03 -0800 2009 5179591 251260 vinhotinto75 4 5186519 Robin was just on KGOW 1560 am in Houston on the Southbound Food Show. She said the editing was accurate and there was tension in the house toward her. Check out the podcast on their website. Mon Nov 16 14:33:12 -0800 2009 5185994 198541 James Cristinian