Iron Chef

While there can be a downside to dating a chef, for instance, not ever seeing them, there are also perks. One perk, events. That’s right, there are events going on all over the city all the time. Magazine parties, premieres, private parties, art openings, and yes, restaurant events. Many of these events are by invitation only. So you may ask yourself how I might be privy to the occasional event. Clearly, I am not a socialite and as this blog has certainly not reached any sort of fame, yet, it’s a wonder how I may, on special occasions, find myself able to attend an amazing party…for free. Answer: date a chef.

Being slightly connected to some great people can’t just happen by dating any old cook in the kitchen. No, you need to find yourself one that matters, one that runs the show. They’re the ones who build a name. And if you have a name, then you get to meet all the other names out there. And when you date the chef, you’re on his arm when all the names get together.

Case in point, the Iron Chef event. If you’re a fan of the Food Network, you’re probably aware that Iron Chef America has a new Iron Chef, Jose Garces. The Garces Restaurant group may be based in Philadelphia, but Chicago is very lucky to have a restaurant right here in the city with Jose Garces as celebrity Executive Chef. That restaurant also happened to be voted one of the 15 best new restaurants last year in Esquire Magazine. That restaurant is Mercat a la Planxa.

Last Sunday I found myself walking up the steps of the Blackstone hotel in my Bitton pants, red satin heels, with a comp ticket in hand to the Iron Chef premiere party at Mercat a la Planxa. Free wine, free food, and a viewing of the first episode of the show with Garces as Iron Chef. The already beautiful dining room was stunningly transformed into a swanky lounge with bright orange uplighting, tall plants with branches gently cascading down towards the guests, and food stations strategically placed throughout the room, glowing blue, providing samples of the delectable dishes Garces prepared on the show.

There were a lot of amazing and very important people in attendance, people in which I probably should have mustered the courage to put myself out there and meet. But as this whole world is still a little new to me, the confidence has yet to come. Baby steps. While I didn’t make any new connections, I was able to run into a friend, who happened to be one of Jose’s Sous Chefs on the episode, to have a drink with him, catch up, and most importantly, to be standing next to him when the winner was announced. So who won, you ask? Jose of course, would you expect anything different? So being near a friend as he gets to witness the win one more time, to see the smile on his face, to understand what a proud moment that was for him was priceless.

And what about Jose himself? Jose is wonderful, you should meet him sometime. He knows my Chef and we have met before. He’s a talented Chef, a successful businessman, but most importantly, a down to earth, humble, and personable man.

How would I rate this party? Well, I ate some amazing food, talked to some great people, and woke up the next morning with a red wine headache like you wouldn’t believe. All in all, I’d say it was a huge success.