Comments on: The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: Who Will Replace John Tesar?

By: D

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:24:21 +0000

What about William Koval? Has everybody forgotten about this guy? I’m surprised his name didn’t pop up.

By: PotNet

PotNet — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:07:55 +0000

Landy might be onto something. Outside-the-box, but kinda smart.

By: landy

landy — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:51:54 +0000

I think there is a name that needs to be thrown into the ring of successful, marketable, qualified, great Dallas chefs; David Holben. David opened and cultured Dallas’ first 5 star restaurant with the late and great Franco Bertolasi with the Riviera. David has the draw, the sex appeal to be the one to bring credibility back to the Mansion on Turtle Creek. I worked for the man for years and can tell yopu first hand he is the best in the city. He can flat out cook, lead, direct and make money. Let’s be honest with each other here, Duncan Graham is not about to take a chance with a guy that has not been at a restaurant for more than a year at a time; that would just be another bad tesar moment for him. Duncan, call Holben. He is your guy. Any other decision would be foolish.

By: Nancy Nichols

Nancy Nichols — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:37:48 +0000

went2KC: thanks for your report. Good stuff.

By: snootyfoodie

snootyfoodie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:23:11 +0000

@truth…I’ve absolutely never worked in a restaurant and my credentials are that I eat at a lot of great restaurants…A LOT…and have come to know a lot of chefs and restaurateurs in the process. My comment was not meant as a slight to the line cooks (yes, even with my lack of credentials I do realize they do the actual cooking). My point was that Chef Brandt led the kitchen team during Dean’s tenure, during the transition btw chefs, during Tesar’s tenure and since. I have seen him pick up a saute pan and even turn on a burner. By your premise, why even have an exec chef, particularly one with any star power? Just change the name of the restaurant to Line Cooks by Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and be done with it.

By: went2KC

went2KC — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:11:02 +0000

I try to support the Mansion. I do love the concept of the new patio area- however, recently we went and asked REPEATEDLY for the DJ to turn down the music so we could talk. (everyone on the patio was annoyed by the by how loud the music was being played) The DJ ignored our request and in addition our waitress was extremely inattentive even though she only had a few tables. I am planning on going back next week but I will call ahead of time to make sure that this does not happen again. The appetizer menu served on the patio is not inventive but it serves the purpose. I do believe in letting the Manager know if this kind of thing happens and I appreciate how they are trying to become more “current”. On that note, I think they should go in a totally opposite direction and choose a new young chef with fresh ideas. Stay away from “Dean Fearing/Wolfgang Puck” clones.

By: the real truth

the real truth — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:49:17 +0000

hello,

If people really cared they would support the Mansion by dining there plain and simple.
Instead you have all run to new prettier less qualitative places because you have no idea what good is to begin with.
You would be a patron you would truly appreciate service, great food and tradition not just talk about useless BS and spread hate and lies across the blogs.

Furthermore if Dallas really cared about food the Chef’s room would have never closed and the Chef would probably not have been forced out by monetary issues and old fashion hotel mentalaty.
Wake up people start telling and looking for some truth in your lives, and by the way truth is a fraud…… Take off the Ed Hardy think twice before going for the false ones, stop with the nip tuck sell the yellow lambo and start appreciating quality rather than labels and the next trendy joint or just shut up already

By: Nancy Nichols

Nancy Nichols — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:22:17 +0000

HC, good point. love–fifteen.

By: HC

HC — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:15:45 +0000

@Gastronome: Nancy was advocating Amador Mora, not David Gilbert. (Not a snowball’s chance of that. If they weren’t going to give him the keys after 20 years in the kitchen, they’re not going to now that he’s been saddled with two stars by Her Brennerness.)

By: misstexasblonde

misstexasblonde — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:38:12 +0000

Ur right I meant Eric..small confusion, Duncan would be an idiot not to give the job to Eric Brandt

By: bc

bc — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:37:36 +0000

@Truth . . it’s not sad and it’s not going backwards to bring back favorite menu items that were popular for 25 years and diners frequently ask about and request. It’s smart business and perhaps a nod to nostalgia. But as they say, to each his own.

By: Truth

Truth — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:14:00 +0000

@gastronome…. I understand that the Mansion will never fold. Being a part of a hotel and a Rosewood property they will always have a restaurant. I was only saying that it is sad to think they would go backwards to serving the same dishes they did 20 years ago.

@snootyfoodie…. I don’t know your credentials, but have you ever worked in a restaurant? As you have given Eric Brandt credit for putting out those 5 star meals when Tesar was gone…. you fail to realize that neither one of those ever touches a saute pan. It is the cooks who put out those meals! So if you are going to give any credit you should be giving it to the cooks!

By: Gastronome

Gastronome — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:58:06 +0000

@PotNet: Interesting, that’s exactly what Nancy was advocating with David Gilbert. What other names would you throw into the pot for their consideration?

By: PotNet

PotNet — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:23:19 +0000

Rosewood should hire an established local talent and forget about going after a big name chef.

By: snootyfoodie

snootyfoodie — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:20:24 +0000

As hard as it may be to understand, things just aren’t as bad at the Mansion as many people think. This idea that losing Tesar has everyone at Rosewood hitting the panic button is comical. The Mansion isn’t going anywhere. Let’s also rewind and remember how long the search took for Dean’s replacement.

I’ve never had the pleasure of eating David Gilbert’s food so can’t really comment there. Meanwhile, Exec Sous Eric Brandt has been handling things in the kitchen quite effortlessly. He ran the kitchen during the Dean to Tesar transition and has been running things since JT left. And who do you think cranked out those 5 star meals when JT was off doing charity/PR work (which was quite often)?

By: Gastronome

Gastronome — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:02:56 +0000

@Truth: The Mansion’s restaurant operation is currently in a state of hybernation, but it will never be allowed to die. Unlike many restaurants, because it is an integral part of the hotel it cannot be allowed to fold. It was the first restaurant to put Dallas on the national radar for excellence and maintained that reputation for years. The owners took a respectable shot at giving it a new star with Tesar, but he failed them (yes, I have the inside story and there’s no need to continue to trash him here – he’s doing a perfectly fine job of that on his own). The fact that they haven’t leapt to replace him is both a sign of how difficult it is to come up with a legitimate star worthy of their operation and the care they must be exercising in choosing a chef whose talents won’t be undermined by his/her personal behavior. Make no mistake about it, they want and intend to hit a home run the next time they step up to the plate, but there are no guarantees. Rather than wishing them a slow death why not use this forum to make a legitmately constructive suggestion or two on how they might achieve their goal????

By: Tex

Tex — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:44:19 +0000

I agree. What a nightmare for the Mansion to invest so much money in Tesar. They banked the place on his name and food. We all know how that turned out for them. I am just sick of hearing about Tesar. He just wants his name in the news. He truly believes that any publicity is good publicity. He is like a lead singer in a cover band who expects to have the same rock star life of the real band. What has he ever done to warrant his fame? Do us all a favor and sweep him under the carpet. If Chef David is a great chef and person then focus on him. Praise him for being a level headed person!
Just my two cense…

By: Truth

Truth — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:37:57 +0000

Misstexasblonde, don’t live up to your name. Know what you are talking about before you post. Mr. Graham is the managing director at The Mansion On Turtle Creek. Chef David Gilbert doesn’t work for the Mansion at the moment. So why would he be an idiot to not keep somebody who doesn’t work there?
As far as the piece, I am surprised the Mansion wants to bring in another Chef anyways. I think they are content to rest on their laurels and serve tortilla soup until the end of days. They should save their money and pride and die a slow death.

By: misstexasblonde

misstexasblonde — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:16:58 +0000

Mr. graham would be an idiot not to keep David, he is a nice great chef with a nice personality. all of the staff love him