Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

The Chefs/Cheftestants of Top Chef

Veruca Assault

By Veruca Assault
in Top Chef

  • Reply
  • Start Topic

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
MerBearHou

MerBearHou

  • Popular Post
(edited)

I had the immense pleasure of dining at Chris’  Butterfunk Kitchen tonight.  The brown sugar buttermilk biscuits melt in your mouth.  I asked if they could mail some to me in Texas!  So far, not an option but they’re working on that.  Wonderful, intimate restaurant vibe — it seats about 28 — great tunes and the food is beyond delicious.  I had yummy fried chicken with lemon butter rice and the biscuits — couldn’t finish it all but sure tried hard.  The terrific staff is warm and helpful and efficient.  

To top off the delightful evening, before I left, I asked the kind woman at the front (ETA:  just realized that “kind woman” is none other than Chris’ wife, Eugenie.  I talked to her several times — she’s so great.  Had no idea!)  if I could say a quick hello to Chris, that he’d gotten all my Fan Fave votes (true) and I’d be mad at myself if I didn’t ask but would  totally understand if he was super busy. About three minutes later, up walked Chris in the cutest retro bowling shirt that said ‘Elvis’ on it. We had a wonderful chat for about 20 minutes and he is as warm and Zen and gracious and engaging in person as you would think he was. He was in no rush to  get back to whatever he was doing and we talked about how very busy their business has been, how cool it was when he got to go to the Super Bowl with Carrie, Adrienne’s upcoming wedding in New Orleans (Carrie is attending), some investors who want him to open other Butterfunk Kitchens , what filming was like at Top Chef, how great it was when everybody devoured his biscuits that night and what a kick out of that he got, how Joe Sasto is the chef whose talent wowed him the most, how super close this group is (they text a ton), his plans to cook with Tyler at his restaurant in Simsbury, CT soon, how they are miked up from the minute they get dressed to the minute they go to sleep, what a big brother to everyone Joe Flamm is.  If you’re in NYC or Brooklyn, you should stop in for dinner!!

Edited by MerBearHou
Giving proper credit to Chris’ wife
  • Love 29
Link to comment
  • Replies 1.1k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Posted Images

mlp

mlp

Thanks for the report, MerBearHou.  Very interesting.  And it confirms that Chris is the nice guy he seemed to be.  I wish I were closer to NYC.

  • Love 3
Link to comment
dleighg

dleighg

On 3/15/2018 at 9:52 PM, MerBearHou said:

his plans to cook with Tyler at his restaurant in Simsbury, CT soon

would love to know more about this; is within a "little mini vacation" distance from me, and I've thought about trying Tyler's restaurant already--

Link to comment
MerBearHou

MerBearHou

1 hour ago, dleighg said:

would love to know more about this; is within a "little mini vacation" distance from me, and I've thought about trying Tyler's restaurant already--

 I just noticed on Chris’s Instagram that it is this Sunday, 3/25 when he will be in Connecticut, cooking at Tyler’s.  It is a benefit for Fatima and just some fun chef friends cooking together.  If you go, report back!

  • Love 2
Link to comment
dleighg

dleighg

14 minutes ago, MerBearHou said:

just noticed on Chris’s Instagram that it is this Sunday, 3/25 when he will be in Connecticut, cooking at Tyler’s.  It is a benefit for Fatima and just some fun chef friends cooking together.  If you go, report back!

thanks but we have tickets for an event in NYC so getting to Hartford is out of the question. Oh well......

Link to comment
MerBearHou

MerBearHou

16 minutes ago, dleighg said:

thanks but we have tickets for an event in NYC so getting to Hartford is out of the question. Oh well......

Have a great time - thankfully no snowstorms in NYC this weekend!  Perhaps they’ll do this another time.  If you make it to Simsbury and Millwright’s at some point, let us know your thoughts.

Link to comment
spankydoll

spankydoll

53 minutes ago, LeighLeigh said:

Pea purée: I am watching season 7. Just got to the episode where Alex used Ed’s pea purée. Was this a big deal at the time? How did he get away with it?

One or America's enduring mysteries...

  • Love 2
Link to comment
Bastet

Bastet

1 hour ago, LeighLeigh said:

Just got to the episode where Alex used Ed’s pea purée. Was this a big deal at the time?

The Case of the Purloined Pea Puree was a big deal in discussion, but I don't remember if it was a big deal on the show.  (I know it was an issue raised, but not how much of one.)

  • Love 2
Link to comment
Lura

Lura

On ‎3‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 6:52 PM, MerBearHou said:

I had the immense pleasure of dining at Chris’  Butterfunk Kitchen tonight.

MerBearHou, your review of Butterfunk and conversation with Chris was the most interesting, informative, entertaining post I've read on any forum in a long time.  Please visit and review more! 

  • Love 4
Link to comment
MerBearHou

MerBearHou

32 minutes ago, Lura said:

MerBearHou, your review of Butterfunk and conversation with Chris was the most interesting, informative, entertaining post I've read on any forum in a long time.  Please visit and review more! 

Lura, that is so, so kind of you.  It was a great night to describe.  Thank you!!

  • Love 3
Link to comment
LeighLeigh

LeighLeigh

(edited)

For fans of Iron Chef Gauntlet: two competitors are Top Chef winners. Dale Mackay won season one of Top Chef Canada. Nicole Gomes competed in season 3, came back for redemption and won Top Chef Canada All-Stars.

As for personality, Dale is smart, competitive and quite “me, myself and I”. He’s got a great pedigree, but not that likeable. On the other hand, Nicole is a hoot. She was nick-named the Tasmanien Devil on Top Chef Canada. She’s always sweating and swearing and is a joy to watch. 

I wish them both luck, but really hope that Nicole Gomes wins. 

P.S. Top Chef Canada is a Food Network Canada show, so they are allowed to talk about it on Gauntlet. 

Edited by LeighLeigh
  • Love 1
Link to comment
susannot

susannot

Michael Voltaggio is judging on BBF right now.  He is several years younger than he appeared to be on Top Chef and lacks those hideous neck tattoos.  Without them, he is a good-looking guy.  Wonder who's awful idea they were?

  • Love 1
Link to comment
cooksdelight

cooksdelight

I saw Brother on a rerun of Chopped last night. He didn’t win, and when they uncovered his dish and told him why he was chopped.... not a word. Not a “thank you for the opportunity”.... hugged the other guy and stalked off. Rude as hell.

  • Love 4
Link to comment
ALittleShelfish

ALittleShelfish

3 hours ago, cooksdelight said:

I saw Brother on a rerun of Chopped last night. He didn’t win, and when they uncovered his dish and told him why he was chopped.... not a word. Not a “thank you for the opportunity”.... hugged the other guy and stalked off. Rude as hell.

I got that same vibe from him during TC.  His attitude on LCK was really offputting and I was happy he didn't make his way back in.  He said something like "This is MY kitchen..." and all I could think was "Oh no sir, please take a seat."

  • Love 3
Link to comment
Wings

Wings

21 hours ago, susannot said:

Michael Voltaggio is judging on BBF right now.  He is several years younger than he appeared to be on Top Chef and lacks those hideous neck tattoos.  Without them, he is a good-looking guy.  Wonder who's awful idea they were?

BBF?  I am drawing a blank. 

Link to comment
Colleenna

Colleenna

Mike Isabella is being sued for sexual harassment. Multiple other employees (besides the complainant) have supported the woman's story. Apparently he has a drinking problem and is prone to inappropriate comments and behavior.

  • Love 3
Link to comment
Fiero425

Fiero425

On ‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 10:11 AM, Colleenna said:

Mike Isabella is being sued for sexual harassment. Multiple other employees (besides the complainant) have supported the woman's story. Apparently he has a drinking problem and is prone to inappropriate comments and behavior.

Who's surprised? He was a sleaze-ball going back years! Getting older and heavier wouldn't help his disposition and persona! Never cared for the guy! ;-(

  • Love 9
Link to comment
nitrofishblue

nitrofishblue

8 hours ago, cooksdelight said:

He’s probably crying in a corner somewhere, about choking.... again... 

Poor little baby; she beat him fair and square in Top Chef then goes on to be an Iron Chef. All he managed to do is get beat in his attempt to take down an Iron Chef. So now he at times is a sous chef during a competition. Or be a judge on Top Chef.

  • Love 2
Link to comment
LeighLeigh

LeighLeigh

(edited)

I listen to his podcast sometimes. I like when he, and other top chef alum, talk about behind-the scenes stuff.

My fave episode was the one with Gail Simmons. She went to my college and her husband is from my town. I just love her.

The podcast is called Starving for Attention with a Richard Blaise.

Edited by LeighLeigh
  • Love 1
Link to comment
mlp

mlp

Good lord.  He looks worse every time I see his picture.  He looks like a 70 y/o who's been living on the streets in that picture.

  • Love 4
Link to comment
Yeah No

Yeah No

On 5/11/2018 at 2:59 PM, mlp said:

Good lord.  He looks worse every time I see his picture.  He looks like a 70 y/o who's been living on the streets in that picture.

He looks like he spends his nights at the men's shelter.

Link to comment
grublove

grublove

On 5/17/2018 at 2:42 PM, cooksdelight said:

Awwww....

Ehh.... Fabio's wife is shockingly ugly/unattractive and both of their instagram accounts give me hardcore secondhand embarrassment.

Did anyone else catch Fabio's assertion that Trump 'has done more for african-americans than any other president'? I don't understand why he thinks Instagram is the platform for things like that when people likely only follow him for pictures of food/selfies. It actually occurred to me that he might be trolling for attention to help promote that doppelganger crap he's been pushing.

Link to comment
grublove

grublove

On 4/16/2018 at 4:29 PM, LillyB said:

I wonder how Richard Blaise feels about Stephanie Izzard becoming an Iron Chef,

I never in a million years would have imagined Richard ending up where he is now ... wearing the clothes he's wearing now.... *confused face* He's doing really well and I like him ... it's just not at all what I expected.

  • Love 1
Link to comment
biakbiak

biakbiak

18 hours ago, cooksdelight said:

She does not look good, at all, in this photo from Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. And she’s sitting down....

I don’t think she is sitting down, she frequently does this squattting thing in pictures. She appears fine on a lot of their instastories.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...