Battman Gets His Groove Back

It’s been a while, a few years actually, that I’ve been able make the rounds and visit some chefs that I haven’t seen for a while. I was finally able to make it happen this week, and my first stop was Tavern 62 to see David Burke (and to have 3 scoops of ice cream while I was waiting).  Next, I had a full-day photo shoot for Financier with Chef/Owner Eric Bedoucha. We finished 169 dishes that day. It’s a record for me and probably anyone else too.

Another photo shoot was at the Pierre Hotel with Michael Mignano and Michael Zebrowski for their upcoming book “The Little Black Book for Pastry Chefs.”  A couple of days later I was back at the Pierre Hotel with Executive Chef Ashfer Biju as a guest for a US Open Event, and I got to met Tennis Star Garbine Muguruza.

My next stop was to see Anthony Ricco (formerly Exec Chef at Spice Market), who is now the Executive Chef at the William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg. I got a wonderful tour of all the kitchens and the roof garden. What a great place to work.

Brad Steelman is the Executive Chef at the River Café.  He’s been in almost every one of the 13 cookbooks I’ve produced for the Great Gathering of Chefs.  I made a stop at The Cookshop to see Stephen Collucci & Adrienne Gagnier.  We just published his book on ice cream, Everyday’s a Sundae.Kemis Lawrence is a Jamaican chef who worked at Negril Village, Miss Lily’s and Suade before opening his own place Jerk (think jerk chicken) in Brooklyn. Every place he’s worked has become a hot spot.
Another Caribbean chef, Hilary Ambrose, is Chef de Cuisine at Catch. We’ll be back to do an interview with him soon.
Last stop was The Boathouse in Central Park for the final shots for their book.  (That’s me lying on the floor.)