Friday, July 10, 2009

Our Photo with Top Chef 6 contestant Michael Voltaggio (and the runner up to Top Chef Season 2)


photo courtesy of kevinEats

A few months ago, a group of us decided to make a return trip to The Bazaar by José Andrés for the private room of Saam for their 20-course meal. (well, it's the return trip for everyone of us except for one person). One of these days, I'll have to finish the review for the spectacular dinner on that night.

However, our highlight of the night was that our dinner group get to meet the chefs in the kitchen. Brian and Will of FoodDigger, Kevin of kevinEats, Tangbro1 of Only Eats What Feeds Your Soul, The Teenage Glutster, and myself was treated to the grand tour of the kitchen and have gotten a few photo ops as well.

As you take a good look at the photo on the top, you will noticed that Marcel from Season 2 of Top Chef was on the far right between Will and Bryan. The man in the dead center is attracting a lot of attention this week and for a very good reason. He was the chef de Cuisine of the restaurant, Michael Voltaggio.

Considering this week with the announcement of Top Chef Season 6 contestants revealing that chef Michael was among the contestants for the show that was taped in Las Vegas. I'm a little geeked about this only the fact that he is probably the odds on favorite to win it all (just like the few favorites who stumbled in the finale like Richard Blais and Stefan Richter).

The funniest thing about the photo was that Marcel is the sous chef while Michael is his supervising boss. If you think that Marcel finishing runner-up in Season 2 with strong contestants, gives an impression that Marcel's boss must finish better than runner-up. Does it give Chef Voltaggio the inspiration and push for winning it all for season 6?

With a resume that included working in an "AAA Five Diamonds" restaurant and working in a James Beard Finalist award (for this restaurant, the Bazaar), it would boldly stated like wise, but you'll never know until a biased decision handled out to an undeserving winners year after year. Will I tuned in for this season of Top Chef?

Oh yeah!

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ps. Another caveat, Chef Voltaggio will also be competing against his brother Bryan on the show as well. Sibling rivalry on the show? I hope it's better than the contrived Euro vs USA stupidity that was on last year's show.

3 comments:

weezermonkey said...

I'm totally rooting for MV!

I read yesterday that he was tapped to be the new head chef at the restaurant at The Langham.

Unknown said...

nice photo with mv!

Right Way to Eat said...

Hey WeezerMonkey,

Yep, right after I posted this, everyone pointed out to me that he was announced as the new chef de cuisine at Langham's Dining Room the day before.

I guess double the good news for him.

Hey Susy,

Imagine this, I might meet him again. This time at Breadbar!