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The November issue of Pasadena Magazine has a cover star who, until recently, was more of a behind the scenes kind of guy, despite the often cocky swagger and 'tude. It's Chef Michael Voltaggio, who took over Chef de Cuisine duties this summer for The Dining Room, the swanky old-school restaurant at the Langham that's been turned upside down by Voltaggio's cheeky and innovative style of cuisine. LAist was lucky enough to be invited to sample Voltaggio's fare just days before the current season of Top Chef debuted on Bravo; on the show you'll see Voltaggio battling it out for honors with none other than his big brother Bryan.
Pasadena Magazine notes that the younger Voltaggio was "overqualified for the show," likening his place among the contenders to another local legend in his field, noting the 31-year-old Chef with the culinary-themed tattoos "must have seemed like Kobe trying out for a high school basketball team." Remarking, much like we did, the article points out that there's an absurdity to the clash between the stodgy nature of The Dining Room's decor and Voltaggio's food and personality:
a dusty dining room with boats on the wall. Boast. In landlocked Pasadena. The Dining Room feels like Grandma's house. It has an air of mothballs. And it certainly doesn't match Voltaggio's sultry, intellectual and playful modern cuisine.Luckily, the Dining Room is about to undergo a massive interior renovation, and perhaps the atmosphere will align with what's on the plate, when "the food is so sexy because you have to play with it [...] a little foreplay on the fork."
Will a Voltaggio take the title of Top Chef? All lips are sealed. But a new episode hits Bravo tonight.
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from the beginning, he has been my favorite for the win. yes, he is cocky, but he has the skill to back it up and i can't wait to see what continues on this season of top chef. i've been meaning to head over to the dining room to try for myself.
my prediction for the finale is michael, bryan, jen and/or kevin.
oh excellent call on possible final 3!
i'm totally rooting for Michael, too...having met him and eaten his AMAZING food at the dining room at the langham certainly reinforced that. do go and check it out if you can before they close up for those renovations!
just found out today our work christmas party will be at the dining room! so it looks like i'll get a chance to check it out before it closes for renovations.
god, i can't wait...
i believe the winner for top chef was already leaked by a major publication, for the inquiring minds.
Its clear the writers/editors of both Pasadena Magazine and LAist.com have rainbow colored flags hanging out front and live in West Hollywood.
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
People gushing over a cook is simply weird. Okay he makes good food. So doesnt my wife and most grandmas.
In our current economic times we need to idolize people other then cooks with tacky tattoos. I mean seriously . . . do you think Bill Gates has any Windows tattoos? Lets grow up people and get our priorities straight.
It is clear the writer/editor of the above comment shops at Wal-Mart and eats McDonalds everyday (since his wife doesn't make good food).
THAT is weird.
Gushing over a cook is better than paying someone 20 million dollars a year to throw a ball in a hoop or getting a reality show because you had 8 babies. Seriously, there are bigger fish to fry/bones to pick.
The food I ate at The Dining Room made by Chef Michael Voltaggio was one of the most memorable meals of my life. He's that good- and yes I am gushing... so there!
I LOVE MY BIG GAY FOODIE LIFE!
I checked out his "dating profile" at bravotv.com and it was all over the place - viewers "would be surprised to know" his deeply held Christian beliefs, yet his "favorite phrase" is "that's what she said." She being Mary Magdalene?
MICHAEL IS THE FANTASY. ENOUGH SAID.