Food and Wine Names Komi’s Monis Best New Chef
Food and Wine has released their list of best new chefs for 2007, and Komi’s chef Johnny Monis has made the cut. Focusing on “modest, low-key restaurants” and chefs who are “obsessed with ingredients,” Food and Wine selected ten chefs from across the country who are steadily climbing the vertical food tower of greatness. Well, ten chefs other than Rachael Ray and Sandra Lee, who they somehow managed not to name five times each.

Monis and his ’07 cohorts join the league of other best new chefs like 2006’s Cathal Armstrong, 2005’s Eric Ziebold, 2001’s Frank Ruta, and 1990’s Roberto Donna. It’s no surprise given the awards and praise he’s received in the three years his restaurant has been open. With the recent change to a tasting-menu only format, Monis’ cooking has received even more acclaim, and reservations to his 38-seat restaurant are becoming increasingly hard to come by.

More than the personal honor of this award, Monis’ selection goes further to cement Washington as a first rate food city. Following directly on the heels of José Andrés’ blowout on Iron Chef, this Food and Wine ensures that anyone paying attention will come flocking to the city, immediately bypass the cherry blossoms, and start dialing for reservations from their hotels in Gaithersburg the Web site promised was “minutes from Washington!” D.C.’s apperance on the list is an award in itself, as there is only one chef from New York City (April Broomfield of the Spotted Pig) this year, and none from Los Angeles, Chicago, or regional Beard Award nemesis Philadelphia. Ha HA, Philly! You are stagnating in the eyes of F&W, better start making more news like the 40 year-old intern.

Photo from katmere.