And what's our plan for
pacing?
00:00
Because I truly-
I do think we need to
00:02
Because usually
when we go out,
00:05
it's basically
a lot of drinking.
00:07
That's kind of similar
to what's going to
00:12
You think I've
done that before.
00:21
I did not think that
was going to be a whole
00:23
I'm Gail Simmons, special
projects director at
00:35
Food Lion magazine, judge
on Bravo's Top Chef.
00:38
It was a long road
to get here and
00:41
it actually started 20
years ago discovering
00:42
that I wanted to work
in the food industry.
00:46
I moved to New York and
I went to culinary school
00:47
and when I felt like I
had gotten some good
00:49
experience I left
the kitchen and
00:51
went to work for
Jeffrey Steingarten,
00:53
who is the food critic
at Vogue magazine.
00:55
It was through Jeffrey
that I came to know so
00:57
many of the most
talented chefs and
00:59
food people around
the country,
01:02
because he worked
with them on so
01:04
many different projects.
01:04
And one of the people I
01:06
came to know was
Daniel Boulud.
01:06
So Danielle only had
three restaurants at
01:08
the time, but
was opening many
01:10
more around the country,
writing books,
01:12
had tons of events, and
his marketing director
01:13
needed some help, so
he offered me the job.
01:16
It wasn't the job I
anticipated taking,
01:18
because I thought I
was just gonna go be
01:20
When Daniel Boulud
offers you a job,
01:23
>From working at Danielle
for three years,
01:26
I went to go work at
Food and Wine Magazine.
01:28
And about a year
into the job,
01:30
Bravo came to Food and
Wine to ask them
01:32
if they'd help partner on
a food show and Food and
01:35
Wine sent me on
a screen test.
01:38
To see if this
was something we
01:40
could all do together,
and Bravo chose me.
01:42
Three weeks later, I was
shooting Top Chef, and
01:44
I guess the rest
is history.
01:46
I think one of the most
rewarding things about
01:48
Top Chef, is that after
13 seasons, we can
01:50
quantify how successful
the winners have been,
01:53
and several of the other
contestants, too.
01:56
There were something like
over 100 restaurants that
01:58
have opened in America,
since we started the show
02:01
that are from contestants
and you still can't deny
02:04
how much of an impact
this show and
02:07
it's chefs have had
on our industry.
02:09
I met two of my closest
girlfriends at the Food
02:14
and Wine Magazine
offices in town,
02:17
at the iconic Time and
Life building.
02:19
The girls who came
along with me for
02:22
the night were
Nilou Motamed and
02:23
Who are these two people?
02:27
That the producer's
chose to stand in as my
02:29
She doesn't have
any friends.
02:32
We're doing well with
the script though.
02:33
Tell me more
about your self.
02:38
The three of us get
together a lot.
02:40
We sort of have a big
crew of friends that love
02:42
to eat and drink,
love to travel.
02:45
No one will be safe.
02:52
And he has
done it before.
02:54
Okay, where are we going,
Gail?
02:56
Where are we heading?
02:57
Oh we're going to Navy.
02:58
Tell us a little
bit more about.
03:00
No I'm getting out.
03:04
What's your
Instagram strategy?
03:06
All right we're
going to Navy.
03:09
Camille Becerra's
restaurant in SoHo.
03:11
Camille was on the third
season of Top Chef,
03:13
she was a contestant and
she did well but
03:16
not great in the season.
03:21
I could tell she was
a great cook and
03:22
she's just a great
person and
03:24
we stayed in touch after
the season and she is so
03:25
creative, and
she has done so
03:29
well, and Navy is such
a cool little spot.
03:30
I chose to go to Navy
specifically, because I
03:35
think it's such a hidden
gem in New York City.
03:39
It really is one of
those places that
03:42
I can eat several
times a week.
03:43
It's totally unfussy.
03:44
The mood of the room
is so comfortable and
03:47
I like the way it
smells a little smokey.
03:51
It does smell
good in here.
03:54
It's just,
isn't it a cool,
03:56
pretty little situation?
03:57
It's really sexy because
you could totally have
03:59
an affair here
Noted, noted.
04:02
What do you think we
should do because we're
04:05
gonna just get
a few things
04:06
because we're like moving
Yeah.
04:08
It's a progressive.
04:10
So why don't you
just do like,
04:12
Whatever you think.
04:13
Little apps, right?
04:14
I would describe
Camille's food
04:15
as being super seasonal.
04:18
She loves to play
with texture.
04:25
We started with a scallop
svechice which had tons
04:28
of lime, lots of
herbs and avocado.
04:31
The bavitas actually.
04:36
The bavitas are the shit.
04:38
She knows what
she's doing.
04:41
She's no dumb dumb.
04:44
I absolutely loved
the scallops svechice was
04:45
a great way to
start our night.
04:47
A fresh clean bite at
the beginning of what
04:49
was gonna be a very
long night ahead of us.
04:52
You can just pick it up
and whenever you want.
04:54
We also had her
liver toast,
04:57
which she shaves
chocolate onto.
04:59
You think that's
gonna have a strange,
05:01
it's a bittersweet
chocolate that
05:05
really goes well with the
richness of the liver.
05:06
We had a few salads that
I loved especially this
05:09
Asian pear and
radish salad.
05:12
That I expected to be
chunky and crunchy,
05:13
but she shaved the radish
and the Asian pear so
05:16
thinly in rounds,
on the mandolin, and
05:20
then dressed it with
a beautiful olive oil and
05:22
some, what she
called a citronet.
05:25
Which, she actually
described as a sweet
05:27
lemonade vinaigrette that
really brought the dish
05:30
It was a bit of
a revelation.
05:33
It's just like fresh and.
05:35
She's like, she gets it.
05:38
You know what I mean?
05:40
Bye, thanks for visiting.
05:41
Thank you for having us.
05:43
We'll see you soon.
05:45
>From there we walked
to ZZ's Clam Bar.
05:50
ZZ's Clam Bar is run by
05:56
I have three good friends
of mine, Rich Tarrizzi,
05:57
Mario Carbone, and
Geoffrey Zalazneck.
05:59
It's a really special,
06:02
kind of magical
cocktail place.
06:03
The cocktail director,
mixologist,
06:05
Thomas, is a total
character.
06:07
They're usually not
open on Mondays,
06:11
but we went anyway.
06:13
It was amazing because we
got to saddle up to that
06:14
beautiful marble bar.
06:17
We should not be sitting,
06:18
here this is not
usually how we sit.
06:19
We're blocking the view,
06:23
we're distracting poor
Thomas from his work.
06:25
But, tonight's
a special night.
06:27
So this is cilantro and
jalapeno juice tequila.
06:32
That's my jam.
Yeah with house made
06:37
That's unbelievable.
06:40
My whole face is on fire.
06:43
It's not,
it's not not spicy.
06:45
Pass that baby over here.
06:46
It's not not spicy.
It's bananas.
06:48
The food is absolutely
beautiful here, but
06:50
you go for the cocktails.
06:54
You can not believe how
stunning and creative and
06:55
really insane these
cocktails are.
06:59
Thomas, is a mad
scientist, he's a genius.
07:01
We went in thinking
we would try one
07:04
Maybe among the three
of us, we'd have five
07:06
to get a feel for
how awesome they are.
07:09
But of course we ended
up drinking eight,
07:12
eight cocktails
at that bar.
07:15
So Thomas, would you
say the recipe for
07:17
a really sloppy
night is to have
07:19
eight different
cocktails right in a row?
07:22
Yeah, it depends on
what kind of champ
07:25
I mean I can do
eight cocktails.
07:27
Mm.
So the next one I'm
07:31
making for
you is the pistachio.
07:32
I absolutely went crazy
for this pistachio
07:36
cocktail that had
kumquats on top of it.
07:39
Another amazing
combination.
07:43
This is like an Italian
rainbow cookie.
07:47
It's like a dessert.
07:51
We also ate some
amazing things at ZZ's.
07:53
We had these beautiful,
perfect little Japanese
07:56
sardines with blood
orange and other citrus.
07:59
We had this fantastic
scallop dish.
08:03
Live scallop that had
been thinly sliced and
08:07
then drizzled with
brown butter.
08:09
And we had some
lobster svechice
08:12
Since you've worked at
08:13
a lot of bars in your
history in San Francisco
08:15
what's the worst and
08:19
best pickup line
you've ever heard?
08:20
It was a guy
talking to a girl.
08:22
And it was something
like are you Mumford?
08:23
Because I wanna
make your sons.
08:27
It was so bad,
like she was so confused.
08:32
I don't even know if she
knew who the band was.
08:34
Anyway, the band
sucks too, so.
08:38
But we do have to leave
you, don't you think?
08:40
Any time.
Thank you for having us.
08:46
Wait, with or
without the stir.
08:48
That was appropriate,
08:49
actually, just
make it like that.
08:51
We're making
a drink right now.
08:54
>From there we headed
to Miss Lily's 7A.
08:57
Are you sober, Alana,
to be driving right now?
09:01
Listen, Alana, I know
09:03
Pistachio
I downed it.
09:05
I downed
the pistachio ladies.
09:11
Hey ladies,
where we going next?
09:14
That's the worst,
that the worst.
09:15
Ladies, no it like.
09:17
Like the Liza Minnelli
coming out.
09:19
Hey ladies,
where we coming next?
09:21
Where are we going?
09:23
Where we coming next?
09:24
We're going to
Miss Lily's 7A.
09:26
It's a Caribbean
restaurant with
09:30
a great rum bar and I
happen to be really good
09:32
friends with Paul Salmon,
the owner.
09:35
as the second
Miss Lily's in New York.
09:39
There's another Miss
Lily's on Houston Street.
09:41
He also owns
the Rockhouse,
09:43
which is a very special
hotel in Jamaica.
09:44
We're so excited to
be at Miss Lyly's 7A.
09:48
Me too.
I'm happy to have
09:49
Thank you so
much for having us.
09:53
Every time-
Dip your toes
09:54
into the sand here.
09:56
Ya, I know.
I can feel it.
09:56
I can feel the sunshine
on my face.
09:58
Their chef Adam is super
cool and is always
10:00
pushing the boundaries
of Caribbean foods.
10:03
Doing interesting
things with it.
10:06
Always trying to
introduce people to more
10:07
of it because there
actually isn't a ton
10:10
of Caribbean restaurants
in Manhattan.
10:12
Start you off with
our pepper shrimp.
10:15
Here, there you go.
10:17
Enjoy.
What came to the table
10:19
first were a few other
signature dishes.
10:20
The pepper shrimp,
which is super spicy.
10:22
Also their hush puppies.
10:24
And then, Adam brought
us this crazy platter
10:26
of curried goat neck,
10:29
which he's just trying
out on the menu.
10:31
Oh, this shit is good.
10:37
So good.
Oh my God.
10:41
That's really delicious.
10:43
It's as though
we've never eaten.
10:44
It was such a fun
way to eat.
10:49
The perfect thing to
share with a great
10:50
cocktail by your side.
10:53
This is such a good size.
10:56
Everyone wants this.
10:57
That's what she said.
10:58
That's what she said.
10:59
All right, let's get out.
11:03
Paul came along with
us for our next stop.
11:05
Now, the fun begins.
11:10
We've successfully
kidnapped Paul Salmon
11:13
I mean he was having
a meal with friends.
11:18
We literally
abducted you.
11:20
In the best possible way.
11:23
We're talking
you to Talde.
11:25
But Talde is run by
Dale Talde who was
11:28
a contestant on Top Chef
a long time ago.
11:30
Since then, he's built
an empire in Park Slope.
11:33
We got to Brooklyn.
11:37
We pulled up in
front of Talde and
11:38
I had to change my shoes.
11:39
I wear a lot of heels.
11:41
But there's one thing
I don't believe in and
11:44
that's cooking
in high heels
11:45
when it can be avoided.
11:46
Everyone insides
watching,
11:48
your friends
are watching.
11:49
My assistance’s like,
11:53
you’re making a fool
of us right now.
11:54
I can't believe
you’re my boss.
11:56
That's what she's saying.
11:56
Okay, here we go.
And walk into tall day.
11:58
I had gathered
together some of my
12:01
Many of whom work in
the restaurant industry
12:04
in some capacity,
many who don't.
12:06
It was a really fun
group, who I just know
12:08
are always up for
a little party.
12:11
Are you ready?
Welcome.
12:15
Yeah.
We're ready to do this.
12:15
I'm only half sober.
12:16
Which is gonna make
it even better.
12:18
And everything is gonna
taste yummier, right.
12:20
And Dale is sort of
like just a culinary
12:23
He likes to
experiment to play.
12:26
That's why I knew that if
I gave him a few ideas
12:29
of things from Vietnam
that I love to cook,
12:31
that he would nail them.
12:33
Pretty fucking good, huh.
12:36
This is like a version
of a dish that I had in
12:37
Shrimp poached in
a young coconut,
12:41
in the coconut water,
with dill, Thai basil,
12:44
chillies, and then dipped
in chili lime salt.
12:47
Are you happy with
how it came out?
12:50
When I saw the picture, I
thought it was from like
12:52
1940s resort in Saigon,
12:55
if you're in
an affluent resort.
12:58
So I tried to replicate
what you said.
13:00
It's a cocktail shrimp.
13:02
Southeast Asian style.
13:04
Should we make more?
13:12
Oh hell yeah we're
gonna make more.
13:14
All right,
let's make more.
13:16
He made a broth of
coconut water, ginger,
13:18
Citrus and then you
poach the shrimp in it.
13:23
They cook pretty fast,
I mean it's really hot.
13:26
So fast.
They cook really fast.
13:27
We realize that when you
talk about that liquid
13:29
it had to be so
flavorful from
13:31
jump because it cooks so
quickly.
13:33
This is my coconut shrimp
with ginger and chili,
13:36
dill Does this take
you back to Vietnam?
13:41
It totally take me
back to Vietnam.
13:45
Few of the other dishes
we made together were
13:47
are a very traditional
Vietnamese pan cake.
13:50
It's sort of like a cross
between a pancake and
13:52
omelette that you usually
use fish sauce, shrimps,
13:54
pork and some shallots,
some fresh herbs.
13:58
He put some country
ham as well to
14:01
give it a little bit
of an American twist.
14:03
We also made
Nasi Goreng which is
14:05
an Indonesian
fried rice dish.
14:06
I love how he makes
it here at Talde.
14:08
You make the fried
rice on the wok.
14:10
Which is probably 6 or
700 degrees.
14:12
And his woks
are really serious.
14:14
cooked on a wok
that size before.
14:18
It's like a ballet.
14:20
There you go, you got it.
14:24
But you can smell that
almost, that char.
14:27
The pepper, oh yeah.
14:29
And the char coming
off the wok.
14:30
This is real
Munchies style,
14:32
real Munchies
life right here.
14:34
This is Munchies
all the way.
14:36
Then he set up a bar
of probably 20
14:38
different ingredients
that everyone could
14:40
customize their
Nasi Goreng with.
14:43
It was so fun to have
this great fried rice and
14:45
everyone could just
come up to the bar,
14:47
sort of like
a Sunday bar but
14:49
instead with
Indonesian fried rice.
14:51
I have to do that again.
14:53
That was so much fun.
14:54
I hope you eat and
drink and enjoy.
14:55