2005 James Beard Award Nominees

[bilrus]

Congrats to Todd on his nomination for a Beard Award for Newpaper Columns.

[tomdc]

Mark Furstenburg has been nominated for Best Chef in Mid-Atlantic....FANTASTIC

[Chef Shogun]

...and Todd Gray, and Frank Ruta, and Fabio Trabocci. DC area, represent!

We now return you to The New York City Show, already in progress.

*continues reading press release*

[Joe H]

Did anyone happen to notice that ALL of the new restaurants nominees are from New York and that four of the five nominated for chef of the year are from New York?

Hmm.....where is the Beard Society located?

Congratulations to Fabio for three years in a row of nominations; this year his most interesting competitor is from Philadelphia- who has Vetri. Also, applause for recognizing the Bread Line's Furstenburg and Kinkead's sommelier for the only national award.

Interesting that Vegas was almost completely shut out, too!

Edited April 7, 2005 by Joe H (log)

[Joe H]

I believe that the five nominees for this award really settle on these two. I could be wrong but they are actually somewhat similar in style. Has anyone been to BOTH restaurants that might have an opinion? I know that Vetri only has 35 seats and is "creative Italian" as is Maestro. Also, similar to Maestro, there are two prix fixe dinners with the average check for two around $300 +. I have NOT been to Vetri but am curious if anyone on this board has and their opinion?

Thank you.

[hillvalley]

Although I have not dined at either of these restaurants, to make the discussion fair I think that the other three choices, all in DC, should be included. I realize that they may not all be in the same price range or class but that does not mean that their food is not worthy of this discussion.

As for my two cents, both Palena and Breadline have items on their menu that I consider works of art. I am counting the days until the return of Chef Ruta's tomato soup.

Edited April 7, 2005 by hillvalley (log)

[DonRocks]

I believe that the five nominees for this award really settle on these two.  I could be wrong but they are actually somewhat similar in style.  Has anyone been to BOTH restaurants that might have an opinion?  I know that Vetri only has 35 seats and is "creative Italian" as is Maestro.  Also, similar to Maestro, there are two prix fixe dinners with the average check for two around $300 +.    I have NOT been to Vetri but am curious if anyone on this board has and their opinion?

Thank you.

←

I had dinner at Vetri in December, and it's nothing like Maestro. It's more like a country-rustic Obelisk in style, size and pricing, and features less innovative, more filling, perhaps even (forgive me) heavyhanded cuisine that satisfies more than it dazzles. Marc Vetri is a wonderful, charming chef-host who made several appearances in the dining room, coming out to slice meats on his antique slicer (and Joe, you would appreciate this thing, given your regaling stories about your ice-cream maker), and at the end of the evening, proving himself as an engaging, interesting conversationalist. I had a wonderful meal at Vetri, and it's neither as ambitious nor as impressive as Maestro, but I assure you that this is a stylistic statement and not a value judgment.

Cheers,

Rocks.

[Joe H]

I believe that the five nominees for this award really settle on these two.  I could be wrong but they are actually somewhat similar in style.  Has anyone been to BOTH restaurants that might have an opinion?  I know that Vetri only has 35 seats and is "creative Italian" as is Maestro.  Also, similar to Maestro, there are two prix fixe dinners with the average check for two around $300 +.    I have NOT been to Vetri but am curious if anyone on this board has and their opinion?

Thank you.

←

I had dinner at Vetri in December, and it's nothing like Maestro. It's more like a country-rustic Obelisk in style, size and pricing, and features less innovative, more filling, perhaps even (forgive me) heavyhanded cuisine that satisfies more than it dazzles. Marc Vetri is a wonderful, charming chef-host who made several appearances in the dining room, coming out to slice meats on his antique slicer (and Joe, you would appreciate this thing, given your regaling stories about your ice-cream maker), and at the end of the evening, proving himself as an engaging, interesting conversationalist. I had a wonderful meal at Vetri, and it's neither as ambitious nor as impressive as Maestro, but I assure you that this is a stylistic statement and not a value judgment.

Cheers,

Rocks.

←

Really interesting, Don. I hope enough New Yorkers venture to Tysons to sample Fabio that he can be fairly judged this time (my opinion and editorial comment form the two previous attempts). Thanks.