Pregnant With Paperwork: John Tesar has a lease.

John Tesar will not be stopped. The former (fill-in-the-blank) chef has inked a deal to take over the former La Tramontana space on Westchester in Preston Center. In January, Tesar announced he would be opening Spoon Bar & Kitchen in another space. However, the landlord killed the deal and Tesar moved his operation down the street.  Tesar has a signed lease, architect, and contractor and is scheduled to begin later this week.

Spoon will seat 68 and feature a 15-seat bar with a built-in raw bar and small plate menu. Tesar will be center stage in an open kitchen whipping up “three unique dining experiences”:  an a la carte menu that will change weekly; two nightly tasting menus (one from the land and the other from the sea); and a private chef’s table for 10. Cooking classes! Wine maker dinners! Eight seats almost in the kitchen! He plans to open fall 2012. Bring it, Tesar! Let’s Spoon! According to JT’s PR machine: Spoon is “ranked number seven on Eater National’s “25 Most Awaited Restaurant Openings of 2012.”

First, a few things to disclose. I talked to Dean Fearing’s about this endeavor because my memory isn’t what it used to be. Second, when you see “Sfuzzi,” it refers to the original, not the current (for the youngsters in the audience). Third, I know there are bound to be errors, too bad. This was the best I could do at 3:30 in the morning. Fourth, I have tried to update locations, but some are questionable, thus the “?”

Remember this chart is the first draft of a larger project. Looking forward to adding more names and connections.

Dripping cheese by Kevin Marple.

In the October issue of D Magazine, Teresa Gubbins tells us what she thinks about The Commissary.

In a profession loaded with bad boys, chef John Tesar stands out. Mercurial, dismissive, he’s a hyperactive hothead with a self-destructive streak so legendary that his old pal Anthony Bourdain has written about it. Tesar is so good at embodying the tantrum-throwing temperamental-chef stereotype that D Magazine made him the subject of the September cover story, titled “The Most Hated Chef in Dallas.”

But there is the man, and then there is what he puts on the plate. From his early days at a French restaurant called Pierre’s in Westhampton to his stint at RM Seafood in Las Vegas, he has impressed discriminating palates, including the folks who hired him in 2006 to be executive chef at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, where he took on the intimidating task of replacing longtime fixture Dean Fearing.

She’s got a lot more tosay.

Anqullkah Udama, Elaine Vasquez, John Tesar, Maria Mejia, and Rich Lacamana (Photo by Desirée Espada)

I snuck in to John Tesar’s Hater’s Party last night. My friend Laura and I arrived early and watched them set up. Tesar was running around organizing the seating and the free booze and tacos in the Camanera Tequila truck parked outside the restaurant. By the time we left (7:30PM), there were about 40 people on the patio. I witnessed no hate; only love for John Tesar. Our photographer, Desiree Espada, took pictures.

Jump for the love of John.

Gloria and Dan Burrows (Photo by Desirée Espada)

Shannon Silver, Drunk guy "Matt", Lisa Strouv, and Michael Miller (Photo by Desirée Espada)

The Camanera Tequila taco truck parked in One Arts Plaza. (Photo by Desirée Espada)

Lailani Mckeel and Lance McFarland (left); Greg and Angie Barrett brought their pup Grace Kelly to escape the heat. (Photos by Desirée Espada)

The sign advising Haters to party on the plaza (left); Anqullkah Udamaand Elaine Vasquez (right). (Photo by Desirée Espada)

Tacos, nachos & beer. (Photo by Desirée Espada)

Empties (Photo by Desirée Espada)

John Tesar hands off pork tacos from inside the Camanera Tequila taco truck. (Photo by Desirée Espada)

I could rewrite the release for you here, but it reads best in its original format:

jump to read the release…

Sam’s Club and eight all-star executive chefs from across the U.S. have partnered to provide restaurant-quality, simply delicious mealtime solutions. Busy families and all on-the-go Americans will appreciate easy, creative chef-inspired solutions for breakfast, lunch snack and dinner at home as new recipes are unveiled every month from August through January, fashioned by the Sam’s Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade partnership.
Starting in mid-August, visit SamsClub.com/Meals and the Sam’s Club Facebook Page to indulge in creative mealtime solutions from a member of the Sam’s Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade. Gain access to recipes and ingredient shopping tips to add flavorful flare to weekday meals. The Chef Brigade will also provide simple tricks-of-the trade and cooking techniques to easily enhance the home cooking experience.
The star-studded roster of the Sam’s Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade, who will showcase a variety of cuisines and cooking specialties, includes:
· Molly Hawks(Sacramento, CA)– As Executive Chef of Hawks, Molly Hawks is known for whipping up clean, classic American fare with a focus on fresh, local ingredients.

· Todd Clore (Las Vegas, NV)– Famous for his brunch and lauded for his seafood, executive chef Todd Clore excites the palates of diners at Todd’s Unique Dining.

· Dale Levitski (Chicago, IL)– Executive Chef Dale Levitski brings his Top Chef All Star skills and flavor-infused family favorites to the kitchen of his restaurant, Sprout.

· Jan Kelly (Milwaukee, WI)– Known for integrating fresh seasonal ingredients into her contemporary American cuisine, Executive Chef Jan Kelly inspires diners daily at her restaurant, Meritage.

· Casey Thompson (Dallas, TX)–TV star and Brownstone Executive Chef Casey Thompson incorporates fresh foods and simple twists to create flavorful dishes.

It just sort of drones on from there, but you get the picture.

I leave it to you to comment. Would you buy Casey Thomnpson dishes from Sam’s?

The man who loves to be hated. (Photography by Maxine Helfman)

Okay Haters, don’t blame me. I’m playing Phidippides in this decision-making process. The physical September issue of D Magazine will be in the mailboxes of subscribers today and on newsstands tomorrow. Most of the content is now online. Here is a link to a portion of  “The Most Hated Chef in Dallas” story about John Tesar, but if you want to read the full story you have to get your hands on a magazine. (Perhaps you can schedule that doctor’s appointment you’ve put off.)

I hear through the TextVine that chef Tesar is organizing a Hater’s Party next Monday night outside of The Commissary at One Arts Plaza. He promised to send details but so far he texts that he will be giving away free tacos and wine to anyone who shows up with a copy of the September issue of D Magazine. (This is his promotion, not ours.) Latest text: “The Camarena taco truck with a special menu and free tap wine and some beer. It’s official. Monday 7-9PM. Haters Party.”

John Tesar finally tells it all. ALL.

Our September issue of D Magazine has been mailed to subscribers and will be on newsstands by the end of the week. The cover story, “The Most Hated Chef in Dallas,” is a rough-and-tumble profile of poor, misunderstood John Tesar. The profile was written by former DMN-staffer-turned-freelancer Jason Sheeler. Tesar didn’t hold anything back and takes plenty of shots at former employers, employees, chefs — even his old running buddy Anthony Bourdain. Tesar’s controversial thoughts will be heard loud and clear.

Sheeler spent weeks with Tesar. He shadowed him in the kitchen at The Commissary, at the bar in Tei-An, and at his condo on East Lovers Lane. During the interview process, Sheeler managed to track down Bourdain for a interview. After phone calls to publicists, assistants, and various emails and texts, Sheeler finally reached Bourdain on the phone. “Don’t ever let anybody ever tell you aren’t f**king good at your motherf**cking job,” Bourdain said to Sheeler when he answered the phone. “I don’t even want to know how you got this number.”

It’s a wild read. Tesar tells all.

UPITTY DATE: Gardizi said the new menu is locally sourced New American. It will not be Greek at all.

Jeez, I forgot to mention Vueve. You remember Vueve and Club Nine7Two. The Champagne company got upset and they had to change their name to Vue. There was a miniature Trevi Fountain in the dining room and Gardizi attempted to create Global Cuisine? If you don’t remember, Heather will show you around.