The Mad Chef of M Street: Buttah, Baby...Just (Peanut) Buttah...

Friday, April 25, 2008

Buttah, Baby...Just (Peanut) Buttah...

(Some more backlog...Wednesday)

So I didn't get to write about what I made last night for my special. I literally made a sauce off the top of my head. I love peanut butter...love it! It's my junk food, I guess you could say. So since I've been on this Asian kick I tried to make a spicy peanut sauce off the top of my head. Never have I made a sauce off the top of my head with such great success, it was kinda funny.

My prep cook just watched me as I pulled out this jar of peanut butter from our walk-in and looked at him and the other cooks and said "this will be my special sauce." After which I searched the kitchen grabbing in no particular order...champagne vinegar, searched some more...soy sauce, sesame oil...paused again...brown sugar, shallots, ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, cumin, coriander, and white pepper. The sauce came out insane, definitely one for a future menu. I put it with some fresh Walu we had flown in from Hawaii (Escolar if you remember my past blogs) and a good stir fry...it was good stuff, people.

Congratulations to The Brain on his newborn son as of Tuesday around 7pm, named Gavin. What a cool ass name! Not because of that douchebag singer from the band Bush, but because it's got that cool British thing going for it that'll help him out with the chicks when he gets a bit older! Thus, posts have been slow, but we're getting back on track...

Tomorrow I am off to NYC for the evening for a cd release party for The Higher Concept. I will be back in DC to open the folowing morning, THAT...should be interesting. Should be a packed venue and a great show, lots of fun and a long damn night.

I finally got an e-mail from my "cook captain" whatever that is...that I will be receiving my official "packet," or whatever it is this Friday. And that they will be having an official "meet & greet" Wednesday, May 6th. Don't they know that The Mad Chef actually does this for a living!!!

It's bad enough I have yet to even think of a recipe or tell my chef I will need that Friday AND Saturday off to prepare for such an event...

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Chef James Chase

At the age of 12, James Chase heard the call of the culinary arts in the simple form of bacon and eggs. Whether it was for his parents or his friends and their parents, who were happy to have him stay over in order to sample his art, this dish launched him from a curious teenager to a quizzical student, and now, to a chef of the highest quality.

Born and raised in suburban Hyattsville, MD, a stones throw from Washington, DC, James attended high school at the prestigious DeMatha Catholic High School, and found himself in small, local Italian restaurant washing dishes. From the bottom he began his journey to the top. He was accepted into Johnson and Wales University for the culinary arts and began his studies.

Knowing that study without practice was under serving, James sought out employment under Chef Eric Pickens of Classic Catering, and delved deeply into the art and efficiency of catering to large crowds with food of the finest quality. Chef Pickens was impressed with James’ work and dedication and referred James to his friend, 1995 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s Chef of the Year Bill Jackson of the Carlysle Grand Café in Arlington, VA.

While still in school, Chef Jackson took James under his wing, and was able to show him the enormous responsibilities of being a modern chef, from managing the multimillion dollar business to perfecting the smallest garnish. Under the tutelage of Chef Jackson, he was able to experience that which he was being taught in culinary school, preparing him for life as a culinary artist.

Soon James moved across the border into Northwest DC to work for former kitchen supervisor at the White House Chef Ron Reda, a favorite of famed Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, at Shelley’s West End. As sous chef, James got the opportunity to help develop the menu and manage the kitchen for the first time, learning not only the technical duties of the position, but the ethics that drive him to this day: keeping a clean kitchen, using only the freshest ingredients and leading by example.

James moved on to expand his culinary knowledge by spending time at Zola, the fashionable café beneath Washington’s chic National Spy Museum. Under French-trained Chef Philip Carroll, former executive chef at the famed Cerise at Le Meridian Hotel in Chicago, James got to learn and experience the attention to detail and delicate nature of French cuisine.

Later, James worked at Chef Todd English’s Olives in midtown DC, under one of his most trusted assistants, Steve Maneno. Exploring the roots of Mediterranean cuisine and expanding upon his prior knowledge, James was able to add a new geographical twist to his repertoire while earning the respect and admiration of two of the city’s finest chefs.

That respect came calling when he was asked to join the staff at another of DC’s more prestigious haunts, DC Coast. Known for having the best seafood in town, James was able to learn from the highly rated Chef Jeff Tunks and Chef de Cuisine Andy Brooks. Chef Brooks took James’ cooking to another level, infusing the knowledge and usage of local and simple ingredients to create fresh masterpieces with seasonal variety. James was so well regarded at DC Coast, he was asked to help start Chef Tunks’ fourth DC restaurant, Acadiana.

The Washington Post in April 2007 raved about James’ Wahoo special:

Another night's wahoo -- ah, that daily delivery -- was also served just as requested, one minute on the light side. Topped with a roasted tomato sauce (with a surprise kick of chili) and sided with a slightly sweet gingery polenta, it was one of the nicest and least showy seafood entrees in several months.

James sees food as a personal interaction from chef to diner, and continues to implement his mantra of fresh ingredients presented in an exquisite fashion, simple as his bacon and eggs all those years ago.

The Mad Chef of M Street

Friday, April 25, 2008

Buttah, Baby...Just (Peanut) Buttah...

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Chef James Chase

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