Next to Honor Bobby Flay

[AaronS]

as well as julia child and charlie trotter. 

[Wilfrid]

That’s some weird shit. Julia aside, I read that as “homage” to the other chefs, presumably paying them something, but they’re not cooking there. I think the word is chutzpah.

[AaronS]

it does seem really odd to me. I was wondering if anyone here could opine about mesa grill. eta: apparently it closed in 2013, I assume whatever excellence they’re celebrating was long gone by then.

charlie trotter died in 2014, and his restaurant closed the same year mesa grill did.

Edited December 4, 2023 by AaronS

[Sneakeater]

But wait.  Isn't the concept of Next paying "homage" to other chefs?  Didn't they start out by doing an Adria run (I mean, I was there)?

What seems weird about this is that these current choices are so mainstream.  Wasn't Next supposed to be "progressive"?

Edited December 4, 2023 by Sneakeater

[MitchW]

5 hours ago, AaronS said:

I was wondering if anyone here could opine about mesa grill. eta: apparently it closed in 2013, I assume whatever excellence they’re celebrating was long gone by then

We felt Mesa Grill was very good in the early-mid 90s, and I remember it when Flay was actually in the kitchen. (I thought my wife would pass out when he came over to the table to say hi, not because of us, but because of who we were dining with).

They also had a pretty damn good bar program (especially tequilla), which for most restaurants at that time, was progressive.

[Sneakeater]

When Mesa Grill was new, it was outstanding.  Just a fine fine restaurant.

[Orik]

9 hours ago, Sneakeater said:

But wait.  Isn't the concept of Next paying "homage" to other chefs?  Didn't they start out by doing an Adria run (I mean, I was there)?

What seems weird about this is that these current choices are so mainstream.  Wasn't Next supposed to be "progressive"?

I was at the Adria thing too. What's perhaps a bit odd here is that cooking the food of El Bulli in Chicago was a realization of Adria's vision (at the time) - precise processes that can be executed anywhere by anyone - whereas Flay's incredibly skilled hand (as seen on TV) makes it seem silly to replicate his work from recipes. 

[Wilfrid]

Bobby Flay has generally run good restaurants in New York (not talking about the national chain stuff). Mesa Grill and Bolo were both enjoyable (even if you could assume a long wait to be seated). Bar Americain started out well. I liked Gato. And I consistently saw Flay in the kitchen at all those places.

[AaronS]

trotter makes perfect sense, flay seems like an ironic choice but my only experience of him is eating next to him at uncle boons and thinking that his very beautiful wife seemed miserable and then seeing they got divorced shortly thereafter.

I guess I can see why they would want to show their versions of what’s in child’s books.

Edited December 4, 2023 by AaronS

[Sneakeater]

51 minutes ago, AaronS said:

I guess I can see why they would want to show their versions of what’s in child’s books.

They can make a blog, book, and movie about it!

Edited December 4, 2023 by Sneakeater

[mongo]

will the chefs cooking at the flay dinner wear shirts that emphasize their nipples?

[splinky]

14 hours ago, MitchW said:

We felt Mesa Grill was very good in the early-mid 90s, and I remember it when Flay was actually in the kitchen. (I thought my wife would pass out when he came over to the table to say hi, not because of us, but because of who we were dining with).

They also had a pretty damn good bar program (especially tequilla), which for most restaurants at that time, was progressive.

Bobby's walk to the table used to be pretty runway

[hollywood10]

3 hours ago, mongo said:

will the chefs cooking at the flay dinner wear shirts that emphasize their nipples?

mongomania revisited?

[Evelyn]

If you need a Flay Fix, just come to Las Vegas. He spends quite a bit of time at Amalfi, his new-ish place here. And the food is good.

[Wilfrid]

And avoid the Vegas Bobby's Burger Palace unless your idea of a palace is grubby surfaces and drinks in plastic cups.

[backyardchef]

1 hour ago, Wilfrid said:

And avoid the Vegas Bobby's Burger Palace unless your idea of a palace is grubby surfaces and drinks in plastic cups.

Or as Sietsema calls it, "Spotless."

 

[Wilfrid]

The Bobby Flay menu is still running here, by the way. I considered it, but it is still a bit too weird for me. 

[Evelyn]

He spends most of his time here in LV. Mesa Grill and Amalfi are both pretty good. If you're craving Flay food next time you're in LV.

[Wilfrid]

I have had very good food from him over the years, it’s just odd to eat a menu honoring him, no?