I assume everyone needs a reservation somewhere hip for Valentine's Day this year…how about this joint in Toronto? Why can’t a local eatery run a promotion like this? There might be technical issues that conflict with our Minnesota Nice service protocol….if there is a rush for the facilities, assuming 40 or 50 couples are in the place (hopefully some will use the John in threes and fours!) won't there be a long line? And what if your food comes to your table while you are occupied in the bathroom? Won't it get cold? When I was working in restaurants we used to find people all the time enjoying their sexual escapades in our bathrooms, private rooms, under tables, and so on…It also happened to me when I was with kids and grandparents, and the drunk couple in the booth next to us stared getting it on.

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According to my inbox, “…the James Beard Foundation has kicked off the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards and announced that Wayne Kostroski, founder of the annual Taste of the NFL celebration, is the recipient of the 2010 Humanitarian of the Year award..."

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So by now I am sure I am the last person on the planet to chime in on Sameh’s performance the Sunday before last on Food Network’s Iron Chef America. He did a great job, but like in the NBA playoffs, the calls always go the superstars' way. You really have to wrest a challenge away from an Iron Chef to win on ICA as a visitor. Slashfood had this hysterical piece, and while I always lament Steingarten’s absence from the show, the biggest head scratcher was who the heck are Mike LaDuke and Kim Haasarud???? What a pair of duds. LaDuke clearly gets to sit on the dais because he is Red Lobster's CEC, and Red Lobby is a sponsor of the show. Haasrud is a mixologist who I never heard of…boring.

Anyway, with almost eight species of mackerel used (that I could count at least) and some really creative work, I adored this episode and thought Sameh nailed it. And while many locals thought he got jobbed on the "originality" category, you can chalk that up to home-court advantage for the Iron Chef and the killer bagel and chowder course he made. Morimoto is a massive talent, and I thought Sameh also got a gift from the judges re: plating points. He was one point shy of Morimoto's mark, a little generous for my money, especially given the Iron Chef's sushi in bamboo leaf, mackerel salad, and the bagel course. Those three were stunningly presented and creative.

Sameh’s trio of mackerel was impressive, the whole fish was a nice touch, but nothing else blew me away from a creativity or originality standpoint.  I didn’t like the look of the spanikopita dish he did, and don’t trust Kim Haasarud or Chef LaDuke on that one either. But Daniella said it was tasty..her I trust. The two chefs tied in the taste category which sadly we have no way to judge that from our couches.

In other news, here are some updates on topics we frequently opine about on this blog
elBulli is closing. Just for two years though (2012 and 2013), and it will be open next year. This is no shocker. Adria is really quirky and taking a break is good for the creative mind. Still the best meal in a restaurant kitchen I ever ate was him spoon feeding me 15 courses one day, and then getting to eat that night in the restaurant as the sun set in Roses. Baby rabbit escabeche. Best thing I ever put in my mouth.
 
Chris Bianco, my good friend and soon to be co-star on Bizarre Foods of Arizona coming your way in April/May, is also taking a leave…but the pizzeria is still open.
 
 
And finally, cats and dogs in China can all breathe easier…

Last night I stopped by O’Garas to help out my buddy Steve and the rest of the Vulcans for a little fundraiser for Second Harvest Heartland, check out the pix in the gallery and get info about Saturday's big event at the Crowne Plaza after the parade. After the Vulcan party we drove home but got side tracked at La Grassa…what an awesome place. Great vibe, killer music, cool crowd, and, most importantly, GREAT FOOD. My wife and I had not tasted the salt caramel crepes until then. Holy crap are they good.
 
Anthony Bourdain knows of what he speaks, and half of his top 10 restaurant choices are mine as well. Check out TB’s choices for world's best eateries. A list like this is ridiculously tough. There are dozens of restaurants that should be on anyone’s top 10, and I admire TB for even attempting this. Mugaritz and Extebarre are insanely good and if you love food you need to go. If I believed some people I know, Minneapolis's Subo would be on this list…I am being sarcastic here kids.

OK, what’s the big deal with that place? Are we really that easily impressed? I wasn’t. I admire its attempt to create dishes that are unique and can be the sort of talked about menu item that ‘everyone has to try,’ and they certainly have people talking with the pork candy. But it ain't that great a dish. And much of the food I tried was a dud. And it isn’t just me saying so. Check out Heavy Table for Jim’s take…very true I think. And how can Subo not be open for lunch?
 
The Twin Cities is getting its own message board on Chowhound. I consult this site almost daily on all types of research, but I also love to post queries on different boards (something we never had until now) to get real feedback on eateries from locals with boots on the ground in places I am traveling to. The MSP/STP board is live as of today.

And how awesome was Al Franken’s seat at the State of the Union address last night. Wow, I had no idea freshmen senators got the killer placement that Sen. Al got.

The Bocuse D’or finals are next week in Hyde Park, NY. Kevin Gillespie from Top Chef is out, but that was a gimmick move anyway…want to see who’s left in? Find out more >>>

I believe very strongly in my friend Jon Ross and his international humanitarian efforts. The recent earthquake has left a swath of devastation in Haiti and the world's humanitarian resources are headed in that direction. MicroAid remains focused on victims in areas where people are left behind, and who face continuing obstacle in their way to full or partial recovery.  Next month, MicroAid is headed back to Sri Lanka to help people who were devastated by the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people, displaced millions more, and created tens of thousands of orphans. The aid needed in these parts of the world remains for years after the TV cameras go cold. In the future, MicroAid will help the people of Haiti. But its mission is very niche, helping those in need in parts of the world still recovering from older disasters.... like the 2004 tsunami, the victims of the cyclone in Burma, the victims of the typhoon in Taiwan, and the recent tsunami in Samoa. As Jon reminded me in an e-mail, “When all eyes are focused on the current tragedy, it’s hard to remember that all these major calamities happened just a short while ago, and there are still people in those places who need our help.”
   

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The magazine is bringing sexy back. I would ask everyone to vote for me, but I can’t win since I am an employee of the magazine. Who am I kidding, no one’s voting for a 49-year-old bald fat guy. But since I swim in the food world, I am curious about sexiest cooks around town? Who comes to mind for you, male or female?

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Now that I Scripps has bought Travel Channel, I can pimp my sister network more frequently, especially when it concerns a local chef and one of the shows that I DVR regularly. 

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My boss told me that the Best of the Best Party will be on Feb. 15th at the Guthrie Theater . . . timing and details available at this link on our site . . . but until then you can satisfy your curiosity with this list of my favorite local plates of the past year.

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My apologies for not getting some fresh drivel out into the blogosphere last week, I was traveling in a part of the world where I was cut off from access to the Internet, and I have to say it was refreshing to completely detach. There wasn't even phone service, and while I guess I could have pulled the satellite phone out of the crew case easily enough, I enjoyed the being disconnected too much to make the effort. What I do not like is the anxiety rush that I get upon re-entry, playing catchup with about a thousand messages and getting primed for the swan song of the holiday season in what will have to be record time. Once again, I missed Channukah completely.

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Every once in a while I have to clear the notepad of all the things I have been meaning to tell you about but for some weird reason haven’t found the time/space. Here we go…

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