Tom Colicchio Visits!

[RicRios]

I just got an email from Craft LA with the above title. Next line reads:

"This Saturday, October 16th, Chef Tom will be visiting us in preparation for his November 1st wine dinner."

Isn't that pathetic?
The guy supposedly owns / fronts for / is the visible head of / Craft.
Shouldn't he be around on a regular basis to check on the gig?
Is the guy's visit to his own place something to celebrate?
Something customers should say hosannah to?
More than pathetic, it's disgusting.

BTW, if you want to join the guru for the special dinner, it's $250 a head.

[Funwithfood]

$250, must be some kind of sandwich! :)

[justinelc]

I went to Craft last week for dineLA and the waiter said Tom would be there Nov. 1st to cook. He mentioned he visits the restaurant a few times a year, but I wouldn't expect him to visit too often since his family is in NY and he's got Top Chef duties. He also said all the recipes are his.

[BHAppeal]

I was at Craft last night (Saturday), having made reservations several weeks earlier before the visit was announced. I've had many excellent meals there, and last night it was terrific as always. I only saw Tom in the dining room once over the course of 2 and a half hours, a quick chat with one table and then back into the kitchen. The place was pretty much full, but service was smooth and pleasant as usual. Not any different than when he is not there.

[david t.]

Is the food at Craft LA good? If the food is excellent, he can be surfing in Hawaii everyday for all I care.

He owns the place, he can do whatever he wants. But I agree that the announcement is hysterical.

[TheBurgerBusters]

I've had really ho-hum food there, and the burger was unacceptable--I had to send it back once. The LA location can be safely avoided.

-----
Craft
10100 Constellation Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067

[goodhealthgourmet]

the burger isn't even on the menu anymore, and according to the review on your blog, you had it nearly 14 months ago...i think at this point perhaps details about any "ho-hum" food you've had there recently would provide a more compelling argument for steering clear.

two of the dishes i had during dinner there last month made my list of the top 5 things i've eaten in LA in 2010.

[granadafan]

Good catch goodhealthgourmet. Review fail by burgerbusters. I agree with about Craft as some of the best meals I've had this year were at Craft.

[goodhealthgourmet]

well, we're all entitled to our opinions and honestly there were a couple of missteps during our meal, but overall the food was excellent, and the service there is unparalleled. i'm not discounting BurgerBusters' review altogether - his experience was his experience. i'd just hate to see someone miss out on a terrific meal based on an outdated review.

[Harry Niletti]

Wouldn't you object if someone came into your workplace and told you how to do your job, especially if you're the highly successful business owner?

Sorry, folks, but I couldn't care less whether Colicchio sees himself as a cook, an executive, or something else entirely. I'm a customer, and I care about what's on the plate and want to discuss whether it's good or bad, not the management process that put it there.

-Harry

[LATrapp]

Aw, I feel guilty now!!

I have no issues with Tom or how he runs his empire. I am a fan and have enjoyed Craft many times.

It makes ZERO difference to me personally if he's cooking, cleaning, or sleeping as long as the food and the restaurant are at his standards. In fact, I'd rather some celebrity chefs not cook if they're in the restaurant;)

However, LA is a town built on Stars and that's entirely how I read the e-mail and how I believe it was intended. It stated that Tom Collichio was visiting LA on the Oct. 16th in preparation for a wine dinner he's serving on Nov. 1. There was no mention of him cooking, a menu, or anything else other than he's in town. A friendly head's-up from the staff maybe, but the e-mail made me chuckle and within minutes I saw RicRio's post and realized I wasn't the only one who read it in that fashion.

So anyhow, I hope that Mr. Colicchio has a nice visit in LA and I hope some fans of his get to see him. And of course, I hope the food is great that night!

[ChristDriven]

Really guys? You know he's stretched thin with his numerous establishments. The James Beard award certainly did not make his schedule any lighter! Maybe if they worded it like he would be _present_ to personally prepare the November 1st wine dinner, it wouldn't come off as so alien.

But I'm still with you on this one. You guys are hard on him and I like it =)
Get back in the kitchen, Colicchio!

Jonathan

[LATrapp]

I could not agree more.

It always stings when East Coaster's gibe that LA dining is all about the scene and illusion and not about the food. That e-mail which I also received is so condescending that in this instance I find myself agreeing with them!

It's almost as if they expect a Ludo-like scene now that the guy from the TV in our living room will actually be "visiting us" in -gasp- his OWN restaurant!!!

I mean, WOW!!

[Charles Pepper]

"Is the guy's visit to his own place something to celebrate?"

That literally made me laugh out loud.

[Dommy]

I was at Craft last night and thought the same thing... LOL! ;D

--Dommy!

[ipsedixit]

I'd go if at the end I get to critique his meal at the Judge's Table ...

[RicRios]

"His meal" ?
The guru isn't going to even touch the pans ( or maybe the pots? ).

[ChristDriven]

You really don't think he will be running the pass at all?

I guess he wouldn't be able to sit and rub elbows if he was checking dishes.

Jonathan

[Jack Flash]

FYI, when Colicchio does visit, he usually DOES put on his chef's jacket and jumps on the line, but I guess that doesn't really matter to you. He did just that on August 28th without any fanfare at all.