Gourmet Gastronomy

Celebrity Chefs

Each time we go to a new city, Doug loves to spend time looking for the local Celebrity Chef.  It all started when we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas.   We renewed our wedding vows that year also.  (Yes, we have renewed our vows twice - we will do it again, but that is another blog)  So, Doug researched to find the perfect restaurant for post ceremony dining.  He found Chef Julian Serrano’s restaurant, Picasso at the Bellagio. 

http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/picasso.aspx

We took our 2 boys, then aged 11 and 13, for their first 5 star dining experience.  The restaurant was full of Picasso paintings.  We sat outside by the water fountains which provided all of us with great entertainment while we dined.  We were stunned by the food.  It was exquisite.  We decided 

that we would save up for this type of experience each time  we travel.  Incidentally, the boys were captivated by the entire experience.  They learned how to be young gentlemen 

at an upscale restaurant.  It was worth the price!

Tom Douglas

From there, Doug has enjoyed his infatuation with great chefs.  We have enjoyed Tom Douglas restaurants in Seattle. The list is long and delicious! 

http://tomdouglas.com/

The Dahlia Lounge is a Seattle favorite.  They are sustainable and organic restaurant.  You can truly taste Seattle in the seafood and local vegetables.  And the Dahlia Restaurant has some of the best doughnuts around. They are the Northwest equivalent of a beignet.  They are made to order and come accompanied by seasonal jam and vanilla mascarpone.  They are only $7.00!!!  You HAVE to try these little confections. 

http://tomdouglas.com/index.php?page=dahlia-lounge

Serious Pie and Serious Biscuit are to die for.  Take Pizza and Biscuits and Gravy and place them on Steroids and you have Serious Business!  We were introduced to Serious Pie by our Josh and Monica.  We don’t normally eat pizza unless we grill it on our Weber Grill.  We are not the Dominos Pizza crowd.  So, when Josh and Monica said that they wanted to take us for Pizza, we were somewhat skeptical.  Our skepticism was WRONG!!  As their advertising says:  This is a pizzeria with a bread baker’s soul!  The pizza is baked in a 600º f stone-encased applewood burning oven.  The pizzas are made with charcuterie and artisan cheeses!  Wow!

http://tomdouglas.com/index.php?page=serious-pie

Serious Biscuit takes Biscuits and Gravy to a whole new level.  They have Fried Chicken Biscuits, Fennel Sausage Biscuits, even Fried Green Tomato and Bacon Biscuits.  You can’t find anything finer and the price is very reasonable.  

http://seriouspiewestlake.com/index.php?page=dahllia-workshop

Gary Danko

We loved  Gary Danko in SanFrancisco http://www.garydanko.com/  We found Gary Dannko to be quite experiemental and somewhat deconstructed.  We truly enjoyed the complimentary amuse bouche and can't wait to go back in February!

Jose Andrés

Many famous chefs have restaurants in more than one city.  Jose Andres, for example, has an entire line of restaurants called Think Food Group. e has just about every type of food imaginable including Spanish (Jaleo) Mexican, (Oyamel) Greek, Lebanese, Turkish, (Zaytinya) European (The Bazaar) and American (America Eats).  They are not just located in Washington D.C. - Tres by Jose Andrés is located in Beverly Hills, China Poblano (a mix of Chinese and Mexican food)  and é (Spanish avant garde cuisine)is located in Las Vegas, 

www.thinkfoodgroup.com/

                                                                                  Standing outside of Zaytinya in D.C.

If the price of dinner at one of these restaurants seems prohibitive, consider having lunch instead of dinner.  Lunch prices are always much less expensive while still providing the same delicious food and excellent service!  We have also found that each of these chefs also have less expensive restaurants.  So, check them out - your palate will thank you!

Musical Pairing

Celebrity Chefs makes us think of Celebrity Composers!  Our music pairing comes from Franz Liszt!  He was such a Rock Star!  He was the first person to play a solo piano recital and was the early sex-symbol celebrity.  Enjoy La Campanella as he is played by the Chinese pianist:  Lang Lang!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIxGUAnj46U

Next week's blog:  Opening the door of the Olympic Peninsula!!!