Hospitality industry’s ‘Rising Stars’ saluted

By Register Staff

A number of Napa Valley chefs, plus a local sommelier, received “Rising Star” tributes at a gala hosted by Charles Krug Winery last week.

The food and wine pairing and tribute event was staged by StarChefs.com, a magazine for culinary insiders that has served the food service industry and foodies since 1995.

Each honored chef was asked to prepare a dish, and the invited guests cast ballots for their favorite.

Earning that honor with his Chicken Fried Sweetbreads with Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole was Matt Spector, chef/partner of Calistoga’s JoLe.

Other Napa Valley chefs presented with Rising Star awards (along with the dishes they prepared) were:

• Jeremy Fox, Ubuntu, Ubuntu Fregola in Caramelized Vegetable Juices with Salsa Maro.

• Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Poached Poussin with Summer Vegetables.

• Nick Ritchie, Bottega, Ricotta Gnocchi with Salsa di Pomodoro della Nonna and Pecorino.

• Philip Tessier, Bouchon, Warm Mushroom Salad with Pickled Sunchokes, Marcona Almonds, Upland Cress and Sunchoke Glaçage.

• Deanie Hickox-Fox, pastry chef, Ubuntu, Lemon Verbena Parfait with Summer Stone Fruit.

• Yoon Ha, sommelier at La Toque in Napa, was presented with one of the evening’s sommelier awards. The other went to Geoff Kruth, The Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, Sonoma.

• The Restaurant Concept Award went to Duncan Gott, partner, Taylor’s Automatic Refresher. His team served attendees Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Mexican Slaw.

• The Restaurateur Award was presented to chef/partner John Toulze, The Girl & the Fig and Estate, Sonoma.

According to a spokeswoman for Starchefs.com, Rising Stars are “up-and-coming chefs and culinary professionals who represent the vanguard of America’s contemporary dining scene. They see beyond the four walls of their restaurants and are committed to building a culinary community through an exchange of knowledge with fellow chefs.”

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