Chris Cognac

Yea, I saw that Neil was there also...I got to check out the amazing kitchen at J.R.. those are some serious burners...Gerald said that the kitchen is almost silent during service.... His colleagues have said amazing things about his ability in the kitchen, I think we need to keep an eye on him for the not to distant future...

Bradley Ogden for sure. Maybe not the best restaurant on the Strip, but easily the best at Caesars. Mesa Grill isn't bad. ← Bradley Ogden is amazing....Dave Varley and Bryan Ogden do such an awesome job....Dave makes a mushroom extraction broth that is so good I hhad them serve it to me in a wine glass so I could drink it! I was lucky to have a 10 course tasting menu a few weeks ago w wine pairings by Bryan Ogden who is quite the expert in choosing great wines w courses... They are very accomadating to diners food preferences also...I have a great photo from in the kitchen but dont know how to post them anymore..... Say Hello to Gerald Chin for me and tell him that Bacon Martini at the "double down"was one of the most rancid things I have ever tasted!

Oh yea....I spent 4 yrs as an Infantryman with the 101st and became quite the MRE gourmet....My fav was the omellet cooked with the crackers, the cheese potatoes and then lots of hot sauce dumped in...all mixed together in the brown "big" bag....oh yea....

That would be a really cool contest...what they could make using only the stuff found inside the fast food restaurant....hmmm...maybe I should make some calls!

Good Luck..please keep us in the loop!

I have the Shun Sontaku and the bread knife..they are amazing, I have almost lost my finger a few times with the Sontaku

I would love to check one of these places out but there are not any close by, heck maybe I should open one up....it sounds like it might be a sound investment!

I second the Gardena idea....what a great food town for all things Asian

Been hearing about the Dream Dinners concept where you make your own dinners at a central location, package them and cook the stuff at home later. I have not yet been to one of these places but it seams like a great idea for a busy family. does anyone have expereince using them, if so what do you think?

Wow, i met your dad in memphis at the MIM conference...nice guy, at that time he was just getting ready to open in Vegas....I am glad to hear that it worked out! I was the crazy California guy that was getting an MIM sanctioned contest to come to L.A..

Its going to be interesting to see how things change and compare them with the changes ,good and bad, that occurred w eG. I think its a natural progression of things in the electronic global age in which we live..

we are looking for everything....but not really high end stuff....just good food...dives are great..

No...I dont judge this one....I wish I did as it looks great....sorry so you wont get to see my fat bald self yet!.... Chris

Porkyland? What a great name for a Carnitas joint...where is the Barrio in San Diego and where the heck is Lemon Grove? Chris

Wow thanks for such great info so quickly....keep it coming... Chris

I might be making a trip to San Diego soon....looking for some good intel on places....I remembered eating at the Coronado Country Club a few years ago....it was a great bargain as they cant make a profit due to a city charter...so they put everything back into the course and the food....anyone else been there?... I am also looking for good lobster in Rosorito or TJ Chris

Maybe October....I dont think they have the full line up yet....I am having lunch next week w one of the producers from Triage and maybe he will have more info....

What I find most insulting about Iron Chef is the ridiculous notion that the secret ingredients are actually kept a secret to the chefs. Give me a break. Who is going to believe that they create 4 or 5 different dishes without even taking the time to discuss what they're going to make with their sous chefs? ← It is.....they have to submit menu's for 3 different ingredients, then the theme is revealed on the show....i can tell you from experience they are pretty serious about keeping it a secret until filming....even bringing in big shields to cover the area when the ingredient is being loaded onto the platform..

Its amazing....once the battle starts...Alton goes non stop for 1 hr...He is a wealth of knowledge...the dude is really smart!

Wow....I have to admit, it was kinda neat to see my name on the Food Network site!...If there is oen battle not to miss...Its the Cantu battle...Unreal....if you like "fire" then the battle w David Bull which I was a judge is a good one to watch....

Damn, I gotta wait that long!....I am telling you, if the air fare is cheap enough I will fly out there in a heartbeat....the guy is awesome...its a battle not to be missed....I feel blessed to have been part of it....

I agree that Brennens stinks....Most of the food around Disney is not very good, but the atmosphere is neat...There is a place in the California Adventure park that serves wine and what appeared to be some decent pasta... and you know what...the corn dogs are pretty darn good as well.....as good as a 5 dollar corn dog can be..

Wow, that dude can cook.....he made some amazing stuff....simple yet elegant....I will be visiting Driskill Grill if I ever get to Austin!

My advice is to eat, ask lots of questions, learn how to know when something is made well, even if you dont like it. Develop a style and make it your own, hit up the local paper and offer to write some stuff for them, for free if you have to, once you get published it just gets easier from there... Thats what I did and its working out well for me so far.... I am based in L.A. but in NYC now waiting to judge an Iron Chef battle in the morning...Had my first NYC meal at Patsis Braserie tonight...not bad, but not what I expected for 72 bucks....looking forward to checking out the eats in the great city for the rest of the week... Best of luck..

Thanks, I just hope I dont get edited out too much....just hope I get a good ingredient...like Lobster...or Wine...oh that could work!..."now let go to Kevin with the drunken judges" ..I do know I am judging w Stiengarten...