The Most Underrated Chef in Dallas: Fill in the Blank

Posted on June 11th, 2009 12:22pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Chefs, Foodie People, Restaurant News

We all know Stephan, Dean, Avner, Kent, and Sharon on a first name basis. But what about the other guys and gals—the ones without reality TV or PR hype. I’m talking about the line chefs and talented mom and pop shops yearning to break free and get their chance at the spotlight. It’s a rainy day, let’s stay inside and play. (Execuchefs? Name your top line cooks.) I pick Alex Yao from Yao Fuzi. Your turn.

34 comments

  1. Marcos Segovia, Mike Marusak, Eric Brandt, and Anthony Van Camp.

    @ 12:38 pm on June 11, 2009

  2. WAY Underrated – Tracy Miller at Local and Stefano Secchi at Ferrari’s in Grapevine. Not underrated necessarily but who deserve to be on your 1 name short list of Dallas’ elite – Richard (Chamberlain), Gilbert (Garza), Chris (Ward), Tony (Bombaci), and Scott (Gottlich).

    @ 12:42 pm on June 11, 2009

  3. My vote would go to Norma and Jose Vasconcelos of Soley!

    @ 12:43 pm on June 11, 2009

  4. Kelly HIghtower at Kavala. He did great things at Hattie’s before opening his own delicious restaurant. And how about Gilbert Garza at Suze?

    @ 12:45 pm on June 11, 2009

  5. Esperanza at Inca’s Cafe in Carrollton.

    Here is more information:
    http://www.incas-cafe.com/aboutus.html

    Imaginative Peruvian food and, some say, the best Paella in Dallas!

    http://www.dallasfood.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=5355#5355

    @ 12:48 pm on June 11, 2009

  6. Travis Henderson III at the Place at Perry’s – you simply can’t find better food in town, everyone knows – he is as humble as they come only to be out down by his talent

    @ 1:25 pm on June 11, 2009

  7. done….

    @ 1:25 pm on June 11, 2009

  8. Scott Gottlich.

    @ 1:53 pm on June 11, 2009

  9. David Uyger @ Lola

    @ 2:07 pm on June 11, 2009

  10. Mike Owens at Trader Vic’s should also be on that list. Great chef and great food.

    @ 2:07 pm on June 11, 2009

  11. Susan!

    @ 4:36 pm on June 11, 2009

  12. I second Mr. Uyger… Also, let’s hear it for Ms. Tracy Miller at Local….Perhaps, as well, Mr. Salum, who puts out consistently good food season after season.

    @ 5:19 pm on June 11, 2009

  13. Mike Owens at Trader Vic’s is Tops!

    @ 6:39 pm on June 11, 2009

  14. Yes, Mr. Salum and staff do a great job in the kitchen. He is a gracious host, too.

    @ 7:41 pm on June 11, 2009

  15. Yes to Salum!!! And Sevy, Nick Badovinus, Janice Provost and the incredible Andrew Ormsby.

    @ 9:48 pm on June 11, 2009

  16. I’ll throw my two cents in…Scott Coffman of Blue Canyon in Rockwall…

    @ 11:40 pm on June 11, 2009

  17. Kenny “Lefty” Bowers at Kenny’s Wood burning Grill, Sharif at Rise, Valentino “Nino” at Chamberlains Fish Market along with Jorge.
    Miguel working the grill at Capital and Hector at Hibicus all ROCK.

    @ 11:52 pm on June 11, 2009

  18. Chef/owner, Bartolino Cocuzza of Amici Signature in Carrollton.
    He’s a fabulous chef. His romantic restaurant is a real “sleeper”.
    And, without a doubt, the very best BYOB in the Dallas metroplex.

    @ 12:53 am on June 12, 2009

  19. Make no mistake about it, Dallas is replete with first rate chefs who labor in relative obscurity, especially outside our market. Often times in Dallas their only true recognition comes from the name of the restaurants they give a good reputation to. While there are others who haven’t been listed here, congratulations to those who have at least achieved this level of recognition. To those of you coming up, the recognition is nice, but in the end it is all about the food and your ability to consistently deliver plates which, were they oils on canvas would be recognized as art. Do it for love and be happy in your work, because if you do it for noteriety you’ll be miserable most of the time.

    @ 2:36 am on June 12, 2009

  20. Forgotten in the pantheon Marc Cassel and David McWilliams, somewhere in this discussion is Garreth Dickey, incredibly creative when in the right environment. Finally, Keep your eyes on Sous Chef Adam West at Dragonfly.

    @ 7:49 am on June 12, 2009

  21. Kelly Hightower owns this thread.

    His seafood dishes at Kavala are some of the best I have had anywhere. Too bad it’s in an old Dairy Queen with HVAC problems, because the food is extraordinary.

    @ 7:54 am on June 12, 2009

  22. Mike Marusak at the the Tasting Room at Lola. Most original dishes in Dallas and named a “Rising Star” by Dallas Food and Wine Festival.

    @ 8:36 am on June 12, 2009

  23. Rino Brigliadori at Bene Bene in North Dallas/Plano. His cooking is the closest I’ve found to the food we ate in Tuscany, and his sons do a great job running the front of the restaurant.

    @ 9:59 am on June 12, 2009

  24. It always amazes me how the one Chef that never gets mentioned in the same breath as Kent, Dean, and the others. I believe D Magazine named him there Chef of the Year.
    What does Chris Ward have to do?

    @ 11:39 am on June 12, 2009

  25. Chad Houser at Parigi!!!!

    @ 11:57 am on June 12, 2009

  26. Chef Mike @ Trader Vic’s has really raised the level of their food in a short amount of time. Chef Brian @ The Grape is probably the most underrated chef in town.

    @ 12:20 pm on June 12, 2009

  27. Mike Owens??? REALLY???? IT seems Trader Vics has not only hired a new chef but a new publicist as well.

    @ 3:16 pm on June 12, 2009

  28. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT CHEF TONY GARDIZI OF DEVINE CELLARS IN COPPELL,TX “IS THE MOST UNDERRATED CHEF IN DALLAS” EVERYNIGHT HE IS TURNING OUT FOOD THAT IS JUST OUT THIS WORLD

    @ 4:26 pm on June 12, 2009

  29. James Neel at Tramontana.

    @ 6:35 pm on June 12, 2009

  30. I vote for MIKE OWENS at TRADER VIC’S. He has done an amazing job in the short time he’s been there, and has a following from the Oceanaire and Mortons.

    @ 9:22 pm on June 13, 2009

  31. Alex Yao and his son, Chris have an amazing restaurant. Wonderful food and a great wine list.

    @ 8:12 pm on June 14, 2009

  32. Dena Pederson at Cafe Modern in the Fort Worth art museum is as good as they get.

    She ought to be the next showbiz chef from Cowtown.

    @ 9:44 pm on June 15, 2009

  33. Trader Vics? Shouldn’t a requirement for the list be a “chef” from a scratch kitchen?

    @ 11:04 am on June 16, 2009

  34. Mike Owens from Morton’s? He was there for a blink of an eye, and I certainly wouldn’t say he has a “following” from there. I give him less than a year at Trader Vics before they can him too.

    @ 4:37 pm on June 16, 2009