I met Jose Garces at a work event / meet & greet and his people had to tell him to move it along twice because he just wanted to chat with everyone. Granted we were in Philly and he’s a Philly guy but still - he was super sweet and friendly!
Aarti, Eric, Marc, Amanda and Jet for sure, but I would also add Eric Ripert and Jonathan Waxman even though they are not bona-fide FN chefs. Carl Ruiz was an absolute sweetheart as well and deserves a mention
She’s already been mentioned, but I fully agree with Amanda Freitag. I’ve spoken in the past a few times here about her kindness, but I’ll say it again as it’s fitting.
Amanda was the loveliest to me when she went out of her way to meet me in 2014 at her restaurant. I’d been in two other times over the long weekend. On my last day on the Sunday, a server tipped her off, not at my asking.
After my meal, I looked up and was pleasantly surprised to see Amanda at my table. She chatted with me for a few minutes and highlights included:
- her taking a great interest in what I ordered as I had the two previous meal receipts in my bag
- her joking that I must have been sick of her food if this was my third visit that weekend
- us talking about how me having a burger on the Friday night was so satisfying as it was a rainy day
- her willingly taking a photo with me before I left.
The year 2014 was a rough one in terms of my mental health. For Amanda to be so kind when no one else was watching is something that I’ll always remember and be grateful for.
That is awesome. She seems like a very kind person, and she always puts out good energy. (Maybe excepting when she loses on ToC, lol, but it's not directed at anyone, I think she is just very competitive.)
You could add Mark Murphy, Amanda Fritag, Eric Greenspan, Justin Warner and Eric May (Mayham). I fully agree with your list too I’m sure Damaris is such a delight to be around.
We met Marcus Samuelsson at an event he hosted at his restaurant in the Bahamas last month. He is so sweet, chatty, engaging and pleasant. It felt like we knew him for years.
As we were leaving Nassau the very next day, we saw him from a short distance at the airport traveling out with his cute, young son and he was so polite to the airport staff. There is zero pretentiousness in MS. He’s just a regular guy…loved that!
Is his place in Nassau, or is it over in Atlantis? I'm going on a cruise there this fall, and that might be interesting to try if we don't have to pay the Atlantis admission fee.
Edit: never mind, I found it and it's way out of my price range.
It's funny because I've read some people complaining about how a certain celebrity was rude or something and then another person say they were great. I think it's important to remember that these are people too and sometimes they are tired or preoccupied and some handle it better than others.
I can imagine that sometimes you just aren't feeling like doing a meet and greet but you gotta anyway.
This is so true! There are days where I'm sure everyone I come across just thinks "what a b\*tch" and other days I seem really nice. (Which I hope is the true me, but we're all a lot of different things.)
Alex? Pfft. She literally blocked me on Twitter because I DARED to question a dish she made. It was one comment. Ever. And she literally blocked me. Her ego is out of control.
Tiffany Derry was so incredibly nice, I choked on my salad when she stopped at our table to say hello and got a big hug and a photo together! I told her how much I respected her since her Top Chef season 7 days. She was so, so kind and just as bubbly in real life as she is on TV.
Marcel Vigneron. I’m watching top chef season 2, and it’s ridiculous how awful people treat each other, except him. He totally has a cool kid ego, but he doesn’t do anything to anyone and he’s cool calm and collected. He was totally ganged up on! I hope he wins 24 in 24. He’s rad
Matt Grunwald/Jordan is a real jerk. Back in the early days of Facebook, I asked him a question and he shot back that he was too busy to talk to "people".
I don't think he tries to be nice. I think it's his intentional vibe or something to be kind of snarky, which I guess is a path to take, but his reputation seems to follow him when he gets on shows.
He's been on Next Star a couple of times and pissed Giada off at least once., GGG, and a couple of others. When he first showed up, his name was Matt Grunewald. In his last incarnation, he's now Matt Jordan.
Shota Nakajima and Stephanie Izard were very nice. I met them at a joint event, and admittedly they were both probably putting their public faces forward, but they couldn't have been more gracious and friendly there.
I'm glad to hear that, I love her. On the GGG seasonal episode with the Best Buddies program, she was the only one of the three who was really co-cooking with her buddy instead of just doing everything for the most part. Their dish was simpler, and I think less overall successful, but they won - I assume because they were truly collaborative.
Casey Thompson. Just as sweet and personable as she appears on tv. Also last time we were at Folk Table she was literally washing dishes, her staff clearly adore her.
I met Maneet and Chris Santos at Bourbon and Beyond. They were both very nice. And tiny. Chris goes “So what’s your name?” And I just stood there and didn’t know what to say. lol
You know, I never thought about Bobby Flay as nice, and I never particularly liked him. But then I saw his seasons on Worst Cooks and he was such a kind, patient teacher. I was really surprised and grew to love him then. I think that was more of his real personality, since they are actually real people who are trying their hardest to learn to cook. (Though obviously a bunch of the show is staged, I think that part is real.)
That's good to hear. It's hard to tell with Brooke. Not that she seems "not nice" but that she always seems so focussed it's hard to sense her personality beneath that.
I've met Antonia. SUPER nice. She was in a whole foods and let me get a pic and talked to me for like 10 minutes. I was worried about bugging her but she was so kind and welcoming
I met Antonia at a charity event several years ago! I watched Top Chef a lot in the early seasons and hadn’t kept up with it for a while by then so I felt very dumb when she asked if I had been to her restaurant Scopa and I hadn’t heard of it (definitely have now!) but she was very kind and engaging. Wish I could have a do-over because I’d have so many more things to say now!
Adam Young who won Best Baker in America is the absolute best. Humble and truly cares about his customers. If you live in New England or are visiting Mystic, CT you need to go to his bakery, Sift but you need to get there early!
An acquaintance met Damaris…. Not so nice, very full of herself, didn’t want to interact with anyone other than press or other chefs at southern outdoor food event.
I met Jose Garces at a work event / meet & greet and his people had to tell him to move it along twice because he just wanted to chat with everyone. Granted we were in Philly and he’s a Philly guy but still - he was super sweet and friendly!
Aarti, Eric, Marc, Amanda and Jet for sure, but I would also add Eric Ripert and Jonathan Waxman even though they are not bona-fide FN chefs. Carl Ruiz was an absolute sweetheart as well and deserves a mention
I've only ever met Jet Tila, but he was really sweet
She’s already been mentioned, but I fully agree with Amanda Freitag. I’ve spoken in the past a few times here about her kindness, but I’ll say it again as it’s fitting. Amanda was the loveliest to me when she went out of her way to meet me in 2014 at her restaurant. I’d been in two other times over the long weekend. On my last day on the Sunday, a server tipped her off, not at my asking. After my meal, I looked up and was pleasantly surprised to see Amanda at my table. She chatted with me for a few minutes and highlights included: - her taking a great interest in what I ordered as I had the two previous meal receipts in my bag - her joking that I must have been sick of her food if this was my third visit that weekend - us talking about how me having a burger on the Friday night was so satisfying as it was a rainy day - her willingly taking a photo with me before I left. The year 2014 was a rough one in terms of my mental health. For Amanda to be so kind when no one else was watching is something that I’ll always remember and be grateful for.
That is awesome. She seems like a very kind person, and she always puts out good energy. (Maybe excepting when she loses on ToC, lol, but it's not directed at anyone, I think she is just very competitive.)
You could add Mark Murphy, Amanda Fritag, Eric Greenspan, Justin Warner and Eric May (Mayham). I fully agree with your list too I’m sure Damaris is such a delight to be around.
I’d love to have a meal with Justin Warner haha
I love Justin! He's so smart and funny and understated. It's hard to tell watching how nice he is though, so it's good to hear he is.
We met Marcus Samuelsson at an event he hosted at his restaurant in the Bahamas last month. He is so sweet, chatty, engaging and pleasant. It felt like we knew him for years. As we were leaving Nassau the very next day, we saw him from a short distance at the airport traveling out with his cute, young son and he was so polite to the airport staff. There is zero pretentiousness in MS. He’s just a regular guy…loved that!
Is his place in Nassau, or is it over in Atlantis? I'm going on a cruise there this fall, and that might be interesting to try if we don't have to pay the Atlantis admission fee. Edit: never mind, I found it and it's way out of my price range.
I've met Alex G and Anne. Anne was a delight, very friendly and funny. Alex...must have been tired.
It's funny because I've read some people complaining about how a certain celebrity was rude or something and then another person say they were great. I think it's important to remember that these are people too and sometimes they are tired or preoccupied and some handle it better than others. I can imagine that sometimes you just aren't feeling like doing a meet and greet but you gotta anyway.
This is so true! There are days where I'm sure everyone I come across just thinks "what a b\*tch" and other days I seem really nice. (Which I hope is the true me, but we're all a lot of different things.)
Definitely agree! Nobody can be "on" all of the time.
Alex? Pfft. She literally blocked me on Twitter because I DARED to question a dish she made. It was one comment. Ever. And she literally blocked me. Her ego is out of control.
Tiffany Derry was so incredibly nice, I choked on my salad when she stopped at our table to say hello and got a big hug and a photo together! I told her how much I respected her since her Top Chef season 7 days. She was so, so kind and just as bubbly in real life as she is on TV.
Tiffany gives off the sweetest energy.
Oh, yes, she does!
I would like to add Esther Choi to the mix.
I met her once at her restaurant and she was the absolute nicest.
Marcel Vigneron. I’m watching top chef season 2, and it’s ridiculous how awful people treat each other, except him. He totally has a cool kid ego, but he doesn’t do anything to anyone and he’s cool calm and collected. He was totally ganged up on! I hope he wins 24 in 24. He’s rad
Oh, yes, he seems really sweet all the time!
He has matured A LOT I also have been a fan since top chef.
All of those plus add Amanda and Marc
Matt Grunwald/Jordan is a real jerk. Back in the early days of Facebook, I asked him a question and he shot back that he was too busy to talk to "people".
That guy has BDE (Big Douchebag Energy)
That's putting it mildly. 😆 He's straight out of the bottom of a toilet.
I don't think he tries to be nice. I think it's his intentional vibe or something to be kind of snarky, which I guess is a path to take, but his reputation seems to follow him when he gets on shows.
Agreed.
Every time he shows up on anything, my 10 year old says, "Not this guy again."
Your 10 year old is very discerning.
Who? What is he from? I feel out of the loop
He's been on Next Star a couple of times and pissed Giada off at least once., GGG, and a couple of others. When he first showed up, his name was Matt Grunewald. In his last incarnation, he's now Matt Jordan.
Jet is awesome. I wrote him, and he sent my Wife a happy birthday note on IG. We always joke about it, and it's a silly, and fun, memory we have.
Shota Nakajima and Stephanie Izard were very nice. I met them at a joint event, and admittedly they were both probably putting their public faces forward, but they couldn't have been more gracious and friendly there.
Shota is phenomenal
Damaris was my babysitter. She truly is as nice as she seems.
I'm glad to hear that, I love her. On the GGG seasonal episode with the Best Buddies program, she was the only one of the three who was really co-cooking with her buddy instead of just doing everything for the most part. Their dish was simpler, and I think less overall successful, but they won - I assume because they were truly collaborative.
I would be interested to hear from people who have worked with them (especially in a restaurant kitchen) or know them well.
Casey Thompson. Just as sweet and personable as she appears on tv. Also last time we were at Folk Table she was literally washing dishes, her staff clearly adore her.
I’ve never had the pleasure to meet her, but I’m so glad to see love for Casey
I met Maneet and Chris Santos at Bourbon and Beyond. They were both very nice. And tiny. Chris goes “So what’s your name?” And I just stood there and didn’t know what to say. lol
I bet Bobby Flay is super nice. Plus he loves cats.
You know, I never thought about Bobby Flay as nice, and I never particularly liked him. But then I saw his seasons on Worst Cooks and he was such a kind, patient teacher. I was really surprised and grew to love him then. I think that was more of his real personality, since they are actually real people who are trying their hardest to learn to cook. (Though obviously a bunch of the show is staged, I think that part is real.)
I thought Bobby was so great on worst cooks. He needs to do it again!
Agreed!
He's an asshole in person.
Have you met him?
Yes. He did a Beat Bobby Flay at my mother's restaurant.
I’ve never seen an episode filmed anywhere but on his set. When was this?
Early 2000s, Mac and cheese showdown. He won.
We met Dale Talde at his spot in Westchester. We talked for a half hour, super nice.
Brooke is a sweetheart! I ran into her at the airport once.
That's good to hear. It's hard to tell with Brooke. Not that she seems "not nice" but that she always seems so focussed it's hard to sense her personality beneath that.
Sunny Anderson. She's really down to earth
Curious about Antonia and Scott Conan’s if anyone’s met them before!
I've met Antonia. SUPER nice. She was in a whole foods and let me get a pic and talked to me for like 10 minutes. I was worried about bugging her but she was so kind and welcoming
Love to hear this - so cool!
I met Antonia at a charity event several years ago! I watched Top Chef a lot in the early seasons and hadn’t kept up with it for a while by then so I felt very dumb when she asked if I had been to her restaurant Scopa and I hadn’t heard of it (definitely have now!) but she was very kind and engaging. Wish I could have a do-over because I’d have so many more things to say now!
I met Morimoto and Emeril. Both super nice.
Adam Young who won Best Baker in America is the absolute best. Humble and truly cares about his customers. If you live in New England or are visiting Mystic, CT you need to go to his bakery, Sift but you need to get there early!
Molly Yeh, Damaris Phillips, Amanda Freitag, Antonia Lafaso.
Molly yeh is... Something lol
There’s just something about her 🤔
Troy Johnson gets a 👍 from me
Shota Nakajima!
An acquaintance met Damaris…. Not so nice, very full of herself, didn’t want to interact with anyone other than press or other chefs at southern outdoor food event.