Missing in Action

[Vadouvan]

It was with some trepidation that i read the article "By Any Other Name"...What haappens when a restaurant loses it's namesake chef ?

I was certainly aware that Lacroix and Taquet had taken a backseat but the other 2 are news to me.

people's thoughts ?

[docsconz]

Who are the other two?

[Vadouvan]

The article mentions Jack Mcdavid and Masaharu Morimoto.

Morimoto is suprising.....again The magazine named them not me.

Just reporting the facts.

[marinade]

Depends on the chef and their sense of presence - and it can go either way. Take Masa’s in San Francisco. The original chef/owner Masataka Kobayashi, was murdered more than 20 years ago (the crime has never been solved), yet the restaurant continues to turn out bench mark food and constantly refreshes itself. I see this to be a little different than the casino franchised chefs (who are too numerous to name) which is more about branding a new space.

In the case with Jack’s Firehouse, Jack has been spending a lot of time vending and competing on the competition barbecue circuit. He sells a ton of smoked food. It’s where he has shifted his interest. Since the Down Home Diner continues to pack ‘em in at the Terminal, if something had to go the Firehouse was the logical choice for him. So much for the "why", now it's about "how" the place tastes without him.

[matthewj]

I think it depends on what the guest expect, or the expectation that they have held before they dine. IF the guest is informed that they are going to a namesake restuarant, to get personalized cuisine. And the chef is no longer a part of the operations, or food. I would feel duped. But what do I know look at all the restaurants that have the names attached in Vegas and Miami. Maybe the public does not care

[JasonZ]

The "megachefs" (W Puck, E Lagasse, B Flay) have learned that they can train an executive chef to turn out food that tastes just like theirs, so they can have restaurants in 10 states ... not so different from hotel chain restaurants or cruise lines .. or McDonalds/BK for standardization ... or now Applebees (I don't think Tyler Florence will be in all x,000 of their restaurants!!).

If you really expect to get THE chef cooking in the namesake restaurant (eg, Batali at Babbo), call ahead and make sure he/she won't be at a convention, on a TV talk show, or on vacation that evening. If he/she has restaurants in multiple cities, assume he won't be in the kitchen -- he's graduated to running a global business, not a restaurant, and traded his apron for a business suit ...

Edited October 3, 2006 by JasonZ (log)