Iron chef challenger from northern ca

[armonkfoodie]

I remember a year or so ago I saw an innovative chef from outside San Fran on the show. I can't recall the chef or the restaurant but I'd like to find out before I head out there later this month. Does anyone have a guess? Thanks!

[poser]

David Kinch from Manresa. Where is this Amerika place you are referring to?

[wolfe]

It's food related since it was by Franz Calf-ka.
http://www.amazon.com/Amerika-Franz-K...

[armonkfoodie]

Yes that is it. Unfortunately there is no availability on the 3 days I have free in town. Sigh. Next time I guess I will need to plan farther ahead.

[bbulkow]

If you are looking at OpenTable, give the restaurant a call. I'm pretty sure they don't put everything up there.

[Robert Lauriston]

Yeah, give them a call. If they're fully booked, you might consider Commis in Oakland, the chef there worked at Manresa for a few years, eventually becoming chef de cuisine before he opened his own place.

[armonkfoodie]

They really are fully booked. I will look at commis thanks

[armonkfoodie]

There was a cancellation! Is it worth the trip from San Fran?

[Robert Lauriston]

If you can stay overnight in Los Gatos.

[zin1953]

That's what we always do . . .

[pilinut]

It's a bit over an hour from San Francisco, but I'd say it is worth the trip, unless you have easier access to a wide variety of 2-star Michelin places, e.g., Paris, Tokyo, or NYC. And even then, you might want to see how a Northern California star kitchen differs from one in another part of the world.

If you have time, and to make it even more worthwhile, head south a few hours earlier, enjoy a detour through the Half Moon Bay area, if you feel like ocean scenery, or graze your way down the Peninsula.

[tjinsf]

yes, it's worth it.

[moto]

that network has listings for all the iron chef amerika programs on its web site. but if you don't know more than 'outside San Fran'[Napa? Los Gatos? San Jose?] it could be tough to figure out -- the chefs from SF itself are fairly identifiable. there were also competition shows between chefs to become one of the resident iron chefs, and a few SF chefs definitely entered but didn't get chosen.