OT - Had dinner with the Dean of the Culinary Institute of America

Foghorn

At one of my national professional meetings where I have a leadership role, I was asked on relatively short notice to arrange a dinner for 12 of us with our keynote speaker - the Dean of the Culinary Institute of America - and his wife. Thanks to the education and friendships that I’ve garnered from this site, I was well positioned for the task. As the meeting is in Austin, I reached out to @The Cen-Tex Smoker and he steered me to a couple of options that have CIA grads as their chef/owners. 

We ended up at a great Spanish restaurant in an unimpressive neighborhood near a strip joint and a tattoo parlor. Fortunately, I know Centex well enough to trust him so as we pulled into the parking lot I was able to confidently reassure everybody that I had driven us to the right place (6 of us, including the chef and his wife were in my dented 2002 minivan with only 3 hub caps...).

We started the evening at the bar tasting different red vermouths and had some Albariño and rioja with dinner. The conversation was great - as was the food. 

Thanks to Centex and to everyone who has contributed to my ability to play a constructive role in an event like this - like @20stone,  @caliking, @Mickey, @Village Idiot , @Spring Chicken , @Spring Hen , @nolaegghead , etc

20stone

That looks like one of those dinners where the chef knows what’s up (or who’s up) and just keeps bringing stuff out. 

Looks like a great meal. 

Foghorn

@20stone, yes it was a great meal. We had our guest of honor order for the table. He did not disappoint. 

bgebrent

Amazing spread!  Sounds like a great time.

Foghorn

Thanks @bgebrent, it was as much fun as I’ve ever had over a meal. 

Legume

Cool story, and the name of that restaurant is...

JohnInCarolina

Love it!  There are more than a few people here I’d trust with restaurant recommendations, and CT is right up there (mostly because I know he asks Janelle).

Mickey

Damn. I was in St Augustine at Thai House having to suffer thru this snapper. 
Next time I will stay home and wait for my invitation 

lousubcap

Better to be lucky than good any day.  Home-run right there.  What a great looking table.  Congrats.  

SamIAm2

Outstanding!! When is he going to choose the restaurant for your next meal?

northGAcock

Awesome spread. 

GATraveller

Dinner with the head of the CIA......thats strong! 

Ozzie_Isaac

Very cool!  I bet the Chef appreciated not going to Outback or On the Border!

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Legume said:

Cool story, and the name of that restaurant is...

Bullfight. Great place. That octopus is
legit. Sous Vide then Grilled over wood. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Glad it worked out. That neighborhood is what we will call “industrial”

JohnInCarolina

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Glad it worked out. That neighborhood is what we will call “industrial”

You find some of the best food in the unlikeliest of places.  Somebody should do a TV show based on that idea.

DoubleEgger

JohnInCarolina said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Glad it worked out. That neighborhood is what we will call “industrial”

You find some of the best food in the unlikeliest of places.  Somebody should do a TV show based on that idea.

Usually the nicer the facility, the worse the food is. 

caliking

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Glad it worked out. That neighborhood is what we will call “industrial”

Houston is mostly "industrial".

caliking

Fog, that sounds like a most excellent evening of food, friends, and spirits. 

Let me know next time, and I'll roll up in my Hyundai Santa Fe - cracked windshield, dings, dents, scrapes, and all.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

caliking said:

Fog, that sounds like a most excellent evening of food, friends, and spirits. 

Let me know next time, and I'll roll up in my Hyundai Santa Fe - cracked windshield, dings, dents, scrapes, and all.

You will never beat Fog in a “guy who should be driving a nicer car” contest. He wears it like a badge of honor. He will break out the 1999 Honda Del Sol on your ass and it’s over. 

caliking

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

caliking said:

Fog, that sounds like a most excellent evening of food, friends, and spirits. 

Let me know next time, and I'll roll up in my Hyundai Santa Fe - cracked windshield, dings, dents, scrapes, and all.

You will never beat Fog in a “guy who should be driving a nicer car” contest. He wears it like a badge of honor. He will break out the 1999 Honda Del Sol on your ass and it’s over. 

 A case of  “joining them” not “beating them” Just trying to add to the “industrial “ ambience. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

caliking said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

caliking said:

Fog, that sounds like a most excellent evening of food, friends, and spirits. 

Let me know next time, and I'll roll up in my Hyundai Santa Fe - cracked windshield, dings, dents, scrapes, and all.

You will never beat Fog in a “guy who should be driving a nicer car” contest. He wears it like a badge of honor. He will break out the 1999 Honda Del Sol on your ass and it’s over. 

 A case of  “joining them” not “beating them” Just trying to add to the “industrial “ ambience. 

Fair enough. Just wanted to make sure you knew what you were in for. 

dmchicago

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Legume said:

Cool story, and the name of that restaurant is...

Bullfight. Great place. That octopus is
legit. Sous Vide then Grilled over wood. 

Been there. Great Place. Solid Choice.

LetsEat

O.M.G. 

Foghorn

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

caliking said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

caliking said:

Fog, that sounds like a most excellent evening of food, friends, and spirits. 

Let me know next time, and I'll roll up in my Hyundai Santa Fe - cracked windshield, dings, dents, scrapes, and all.

You will never beat Fog in a “guy who should be driving a nicer car” contest. He wears it like a badge of honor. He will break out the 1999 Honda Del Sol on your ass and it’s over. 

 A case of  “joining them” not “beating them” Just trying to add to the “industrial “ ambience. 

Fair enough. Just wanted to make sure you knew what you were in for. 

@caliking is used to finishing 2nd to me.

And for the record, I wish it was a 1999.  It's a 1993.

RRP

Sounds like a great time to remember for years!

Your story about the place being in an industrial area reminds me of the best steakhouse in Peoria.  Since the 1960's where it began in a very rough part of town where you might get robbed going in to eat, or robbed after you got out! And driving a nice car with parking on the street that was sure to label you as a sure fire target! Since then they moved up to nicer and nicer digs in the well lit and patrolled downtown Peoria.

Foghorn

I should have added that when he spoke to us, his message was that they key to chef success is "mise en place" (pronounced "meez ahn plahs")

https://www.reluctantgourmet.com/mise-en-place/

GrateEggspectations

So, how did the Dean enjoy the strip joint?

SciAggie

That sounds like it was a special evening. 

Foghorn

GrateEggspectations said:

So, how did the Dean enjoy the strip joint?

@GrateEggspectations, he enjoyed it quite a bit.  Rated it 8.5 on a 10 scale.  And given the upper limit of what he has access to that seemed fair.

Wait.  I'm actually referring to the restaurant.   Really.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Foghorn said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

caliking said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

caliking said:

Fog, that sounds like a most excellent evening of food, friends, and spirits. 

Let me know next time, and I'll roll up in my Hyundai Santa Fe - cracked windshield, dings, dents, scrapes, and all.

You will never beat Fog in a “guy who should be driving a nicer car” contest. He wears it like a badge of honor. He will break out the 1999 Honda Del Sol on your ass and it’s over. 

 A case of  “joining them” not “beating them” Just trying to add to the “industrial “ ambience. 

Fair enough. Just wanted to make sure you knew what you were in for. 

@caliking is used to finishing 2nd to me.

And for the record, I wish it was a 1999.  It's a 1993.

I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.