One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Pasadena Mag Profiles Local 'Top Chef' Michael Voltaggio
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.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
