Edit: I meant Shota, of course. Grrr.
I’m sure not news to many, but I was surprised. Just downloaded the season from ITunes. Seems a bit backward to be on Iron Chef first, but then TC really has been getting more senior chefs lately.
In unrelated news, I’ve been watching season 10, which I’ve never seen before. In reading old threads and getting spoiled, I realized that this was the first season after I stopped watching. I watched the first nine seasons, and then stopped. And it’s because I think I really did not enjoy season nine. I am from Chicago. I loved Stephanie Izard‘s first restaurant, Scylla, that she closed down right before she went on TC. It was so exciting to watch her win, and I was a big fan from then on. But then season nine had a ton of Chicago chefs, and it was so unpleasant. There was Heather and Sarah being nasty to Beverly, but also I think there were a bunch of challenges that just made me feel like, what does this have to do with being a chef? Anyway I stopped watching for a long time and then have picked it back up the last couple of seasons, starting with the most recent All Stars, and have been going back and watching old seasons, not in order, so I’m quite spoiled.
Anyway, it’s interesting but the Chicago chefs really have done well for themselves. Sarah of course is also on this Iron Chef, and I have not been to Monteverde, but it continues to be super popular several years after it opened. I have been to both of Beverly‘s restaurants, and they are truly awesome. And I actually went to the restaurant that Heather was at back when season 9 was on. That one was really nothing special. I do need to get to Monteverde and to Rose Mart, Joe Flamm’s new restaurant.
Besides Scylla, another one from the way back machine is Dale L‘s restaurant - I went a few times. I cannot remember what it was called for the life of me, but I do remember the little grilled cheese amuse that I had while I was pregnant, and I loved it. He also worked at a restaurant I just loved called Sola. But he worked as a server, and this was after his restaurant closed, and before he left Chicago.
Anyway, all apropos of nothing, but this Iron Chef thing is making me weirdly nostalgic. Pretty sure the last restaurant I ate out before I had my baby was Girl and the Goat, and I tweeted to Stephanie, asking her what nonalcoholic options there were, and she replied. And what she suggested was great! And since then, I’ve taken that same baby to Duck Duck Goat
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it again. I'm so proud of her accomplishments and this is just another. Link to article quick read. https://www.forbes.com/sites/loisaltermark/2021/05/27/famed-chef-stephanie-izard-becomes-the-first-chief-restaurant-advisor-for-doordash/?sh=16a25eee6223
Richard was extremely disrespectful to her almost every single episode. His very first lines on the show were, "I think people remember my season for me not winning it". Richard is an extremely creative chef and he was for sure neck and neck with Stephanie but it really must have annoyed her after he kept indirectly slandering her. She seems really nice to call him out on it publicly but I'd really like to know her thoughts on Richard's attitude.
I have a stage tomorrow at Duck Duck Goat. Have heard that theirs a lot of turn around at all of her places. Though thats fairly normal for the biz, this is my first possible gig with a big name chef, and I just wanna know what Im getting myself into.
https://imgur.com/a/QJ47u
My boyfriend made reservations for us here because we got our tax refunds lol. I know this isn't a fine dining restaurant but this was really one of the best meals I ever had! You could see Stephanie's vision in every dish. I think the biggest surprise of the night was how satisfying and perfect their plain white bread was - I would describe it as artisanal Wonder Bread. Hope I'll get to return soon to try dessert, we were way too full to even make an attempt.
Anyone else been here? What did you think?
