Word comes today of the forthcoming Top Chef Kitchen, the “first-ever branded restaurant” from the cash cow Bravo series. Opening Tuesday, October 16, the temporary eatery will pop up in the Distilled NY space at 211 West Broadway. Now, do we really need to tell you which busy Washington Top Chef alum will be among the former cheftestants cooking there?
Each week for five weeks beginning October 16, two Top Chef alums will go up against one another in the kitchen, each creating, per a blog post on the Bravo website, “a four-course meal where diners can either put their dining destiny in one chef’s hands, or pick-and-choose their favorite options from both
menus.” The meal will cost $95 excluding wine pairings.
There’s also a premium, $250 option: eight courses at a chef’s table where diners get up and personal with the dueling cheftestants. Among them is—wait for it—Mike Isabella, who will be cheffing October 16 through the 21st against Ed Lee. From October 23 through the 28th, Tiffany Derry takes on Paul Qui. Then, on October 30 through November 4, Tiffani Faison faces the fierceness that is Jennifer Caroll. After that it is Richard Blais and Grayson Schmitz, and the fifth week chefs are Antonia Lofaso and Fabio Viviani.
What will the Graffiato and Bandolero toque be cooking? His menu starts with a crudo of Blue Point oysters, which will be followed by crispy gnocchi with butternut squash, sage, and pork belly; olive oil-poached smoked lamb saddle; and, for dessert, almond, apricot, and chocolate cookies. Consult Bravo for reservation information and all the rest of it.
See also:
This Week in Isabella: Chef Mike Goes to Istanbul (Video)
Mike Isabella: Culinary Ambassador, Cookbook Author
3 Washington Chefs to Compete in “Top Chef Season 10”
“Life After Top Chef” Debuts in October
