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Dinner. Brought to me by a Top Chef.
By Laurie | September 27, 2010
I love Top Chef. It is one of the few shows I make an effort to watch each and every week. I adore Tom Colicchio. He’s my TV chef crush. Okay, one of them. I have a few. However I was very excited to get to eat at his New York restaurant when I was there last year. I have never forgotten the taste of the amazing chicken appetizer we shared. It was one of the. best. things. I. have. ever. eaten.
Have you ever had food that you could say that about? It really was that good. I wouldn’t lie.
Since then I have been to craft Dallas a few times and it is always some of the best food ever. Last month I went with Krista and Helen for Restaurant Week and had braised pork. It was pretty much the best pork I have ever had in my life. Chef Tom didn’t personally cook it, but still everything was exceptional.
I know that Chef Tom occasionally comes to Dallas and cooks at the restaurant, so I obsessively check to make sure I know when he is going to be here. Luckily Krista got the e-mail from the W Hotel before I heard about it and made us a reservation. This time? He not only cooked our dinner, but we got to meet him too!
He was as nice as could be (yes, that’s his hand on my back), especially considering we are big foodie nerds and wanted photos. What good is a blog post saying you got to meet Chef Tom without photographic evidence? Y’all never would have believed me. He was awesome. Dinner was awesome. I cannot wait to go back again. Soon. It is expensive, but soooo worth it.
I love the W Hotel, too. It is so pretty and fancy. We always get a cocktail in the bar and hang out in the lobby. There’s also a cute little shopping area right near the entrance where Krista and I had our picture taken.
When we got there the doors to the restaurant were locked. We had an earlier reservation because we had to change times due another friend not being able to go. While in the lobby we thought we had spotted Tom, but it turned to just be someone who looked a little like him. Later Kris looked in the window and spotted him at the hostess stand before the doors opened. We were excited to know that he was really there and would be cooking for us!
One of the things I love about craft is that they serve family style, so you get to try a little of everything that your table orders if you choose to share. I had braised beef short ribs (above) and we also had roasted brussel sprouts cooked with applewood bacon and Yukon gold puree potatoes. We both agreed they were some of the best potatoes ever and could eat a whole bowl by ourselves. We started off the meal with a frisee and truffle salad and an amuse bouche of fennel and bacon soup (not pictured). Both were yummy too.
Kris had friend peanut butter and jelly for desert with a banana gelato and homemade peanut butter. It was pretty darn good, I have to say. I went out on a limb and was adventurous with the Mango Semifreddo with tapioca pearls and sweet tea reduction with micro basil. It was interesting, but definitely not the most delicious desert I have ever had. I should have gone for something chocolate, but there’s always next time.
Giddy from meeting Chef Tom we headed toward the ladies room in the lobby. I was following Kris, and walked in behind her. All of a sudden I heard her say, turn around! I looked up to see an older man reveling himself in the urinal, and we turned to leave. I died laughing as we made our way to the correct door. It was most definitely an eventful ending to a wonderful and fun evening and a delicious meal.
Topics: Friends, Nom Nom Nom | 2 Comments »
That food looks amazing. And how fun you got to meet him! I am jealous. I love that show!
Posted by: Nina OttossonWhat the heck…the chicken appetizer is one of the best thing you’ve ever eaten, and I can’t even remember eating a chicken appetizer! Ha.
Posted by: corrin