I'm pleased to announce that I have started a new section of my blog called, Top Chefs (because of my love for the Bravo reality show, I humbly borrow the name, and add an 's'). In this section I will have articles/interviews with the most well-known, innovative, and upcoming chefs in today's culinary scene. The first article, which is featured below, is one about celebrated chefs, Wolfgang Puck and Neelam Batra.
Bon appetit!
In Beverly Hills the heat is stifling. Not the usual LA summer bake this afternoon. Today is more of a broil. A daring few venture out from their valeted cars, quickly diving into the nearest air-conditioned boutique or cafe. It’s a little past the lunch rush hour, and the buzz inside Spago shows no signs of slowing. The cool umbrella-shaded patio is alive with chatter. The local standard of “jeans as formal wear” dress code is nowhere to be seen. Tom Ford power suits and high-end summer dresses abound. Frequented by celebs and industry power players alike, Spago has long kept its title as one of Hollywood’s premier dining hotspots, a rarity in the transitory world of Los Angeles cuisine. So it’s only fitting that its founder/creative force is arguably the greatest celebrity chef the world has ever known.
He emerges from behind a pair of swinging doors, long and purposeful in his strides. Amidst orchestrated chaos that swirls around the main dining room, Wolfgang Puck enters, sifting past tables, chairs, diners and staff. A few quick stops to sprinkle greetings and smiles and then he moves on.
“Hello.” His voice is clear, slightly accented- an added morsel of charm to his persona. The handshake is strong, served with a flash of strikingly white teeth and vibrant and very blue eyes. But enough of the small talk. “Okay, half an hour.” And the table is set.