WASH July 2011 : Page 56

Superchef and Food Network star Bobby Flay names DC as his favorite up-and-coming food city. He’s showing his love by opening his famed Bobby’s Burger Palace at 21st and K this summer, and another location in College Park come September. Will Washingtonians be just as into this New York boy as he’s into them? see how she took the advice and made the best of it. We’re looking for people who grow over time. She’s totally a contender. There’s no reason she couldn’t win it all. 56 | | July /August 2011 p hotogr A p h y Courtesy of food Ne t work . the RadaR | arbiter IN N OUT Bobby Flay expects to spend much of August in Washington training the staff of Bobby’s Burger Palace. You are a W hite House favorite, aren’t you? The first time, I went as one of 20 fathers invited as part of the president’s Father’s Day initiative. I went into the community talking to young men. Later that day, when I cooked on the W hite House lawn, the president put on an apron and wanted to know everything that was going into the food. was so important to me. Choosing Cristeta Comerford as my partner was my idea. She had been so good to me, inviting me back. I went once a week for five weeks to train her and her sous chef Iron Chef-style. So, why bring a burger place here? And of course you won Iron Chef with the W hite House chef. That Bobby’s Burger Palace is a thrill for me. I’ve wanted to open a burger place since I was 6 years old. We concentrate on making great quality burgers, fries and shakes. Whenever I walk into one, everyone just seems as happy as I am to be there. Ho w o f t e n w i l l w e s e e y o u t h e r e ? A lot. The thing I love more than any thing is cook ing with my chefs. At first I’ ll be at the restaurant teaching them the funda menta ls that go into cook ing good food. For instance, if you are work ing the griddle and ta ke the back of a spatula and press a cheeseburger down, this isn’t the place for you. There’s a sign in ever y restaurant that says: “Bobby says melt the cheese completely.” Your favorite seat in DC? I eat at the bar at Michel R ichard ’s Central a lot—usually oysters and some kind of fish. The bartenders are great. I’ve also been to The Bombay Club. I ate there with Ed Henry from CNN. He’s a huge foodie. The food there is as fiery as I love. DC magazine’s food critic is a contestant on Food Network Star . You’ve been a little tough on Mary Beth Albright . It’s been great to Bobby Flips for DC | By Karen Sommer Shalett | know why anyone else is, but we found a fantastic opportunity in our location. A lso, I can get here pretty quickly. Of course, it’s become an important food destination, and Washingtonians demand quality. The Obamas have created a fantastic buzz, as well. Food is obviously very important to Michelle especially. W hy are so many New York outposts opening in DC right now ? I don’t

The Radar Arbiter

Karen Sommer Shalett

Bobby Flips for DC Superchef and Food Network star Bobby Flay names DC as his favorite up-and-coming food city. He’s showing his love by opening his famed Bobby’s Burger Palace at 21st and K this summer, and another location in College Park come September. Will Washingtonians be just as into this New York boy as he’s into them? Why are so many New York outposts opening in DC right now? I don’t know why anyone else is, but we found a fantastic opportunity in our location. Also, I can get here pretty quickly. Of course, it’s become an important food destination, and Washingtonians demand quality. The Obamas have created a fantastic buzz, as well. Food is obviously very important to Michelle especially. You are a White House favorite, aren’t you? The first time, I went as one of 20 fathers invited as part of the president’s Father’s Day initiative. I went into the community talking to young men. Later that day, when I cooked on the White House lawn, the president put on an apron and wanted to know everything that was going into the food. And of course you won Iron Chef with the White House chef. That was so important to me. Choosing Cristeta Comerford as my partner was my idea. She had been so good to me, inviting me back. I went once a week for five weeks to train her and her sous chef Iron Chef-style. So, why bring a burger place here? Bobby’s Burger Palace is a thrill for me. I’ve wanted to open a burger place since I was 6 years old. We concentrate on making great quality burgers, fries and shakes. Whenever I walk into one, everyone just seems as happy as I am to be there. How often will we see you there? A lot. The thing I love more than anything is cooking with my chefs. At first I’ll be at the restaurant teaching them the fundamentals that go into cooking good food. For instance, if you are working the griddle and take the back of a spatula and press a cheeseburger down, this isn’t the place for you. There’s a sign in every restaurant that says: “Bobby says melt the cheese completely.” Your favorite seat in DC? I eat at the bar at Michel Richard’s Central a lot—usually oysters and some kind of fish. The bartenders are great. I’ve also been to The Bombay Club. I ate there with Ed Henry from CNN. He’s a huge foodie. The food there is as fiery as I love. DC magazine’s food critic is a contestant on Food Network Star. You’ve been a little tough on Mary Beth Albright. It’s been great to see how she took the advice and made the best of it. We’re looking for people who grow over time. She’s totally a contender. There’s no reason she couldn’t win it all.

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