Wabeck Leaving Firefly, Chittum Leaving Dish and Notti Bianche
Tom reports in this week’s Dish that John Wabeck, executive chef of Firefly just south of Dupont Circle, is departing at the end of the month. Wabeck has been plating up fantastic dishes for years at Firefly, which is why it ranks as one of my favorite places. Now he’s decided that he might want to pursue, according to Tom, either “the wine thing,” or “the kitchen thing.” Sounds like a case of burnout to me. It’s too bad, too, because I was really looking forward to the Spring menu.
Adding to the turmoil of this change is Anthony Chittum. He’s leaving Dish and Notti Bianche to try his hand at Old Town’s Vermillion. Dish and Notti Bianche will be covered by Brendan Cox, head chef at Circle Bistro. Ugh, that’s going to be a handful. Be careful crossing Washington Circle, Brendan, the drivers there have no idea what the hell is going on!
White House Heads North to Find Next Chef
The long wait for a national pastry chef is finally over! Well, maybe less of a national pastry chef and more of one for just the White House. If you’re like me and you stop by the Executive Mansion several nights a week for dessert and a nightcap, this comes as welcome news. The First Lady named Bill Yosses to the post after enjoying his desserts during this last holiday season. Yosses comes to Washington from Connecticut, where he was assisting in the opening of Paul Newman’s Dressing Room in Westport. He previously worked at several different restaurants in New York City, including under chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller at Polo. He has been nominated for the Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef three times, including once in 2004 and 2005 as chef for Citarella Fine Foods in New York.
Valentines Day. Just Don’t. Just…No.
If you read the TomChat with any regularity, you know Tom is way skeptical of Valentines Day dinners. Why? It might have something to do with the fact that they’re a complete rip off. $55 to $70 for a three-course dinner at DC Coast? $70 at Panache? Some places, like Tabaq, even have different charges depending on where you sit. What? Why pay more to eat from what is essentially a institutional menu, since everyone will be eating the same thing? Plus, you have to sit an inch and half from the couple next to you who are trying to feed each other everything from soup to linguine. Heinous! All of you people out there making reservations like crazy people, just stop it. It’s not worth it, I tell you! What’s that you say? You mean my bitterness from being single is that obvious? Damn it.
Regardless of how I feel, the wise among you will hold off on dining out until after the 14th. What to do instead? Like we mentioned in the Picks today, DC Coast chefs Travis Timberlake and David Guas are holding a cooking demo tomorrow at 11 a.m. to show you men how to cook on Valentine’s day. For $70 bucks, you’ll learn how to impress your better half on the holiday you hate most. Call 202-216-5988 for more information and reservations.
Picture from Little Bitty Tam.
