D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty sports his signature fedora around town, but he'll have to share the look with city newcomer Spike Mendelsohn, the former Top Chef contestant opening Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill this week. According to this video interview with Washingtonian, "Spike," whose real name is Evangelis, doesn't have to buy his hats anymore. Fans just send them as gifts.
Mendelsohn likes his straw fedora most, which he couldn't wear while working at Le Cirque in New York. Following a strict "brigade" dress code, the French kitchen also prohibited Mendelsohn's scruffy beard. But fedoras and facial hair are all good at Good Stuff Eatery, his new fast-casual burgers-and-shakes joint. Other things that are "good," according to a wall hanging here: food, times, people, and stuff.
Mendelsohn thanks buddy Tom Colicchio for his advice: "Go for simple, and don't mess it up." Simple food is also key when the economic dip doesn't favor fine dining, even if that's his "dream somewhere down the line." For now, he has his eponymous "Spike's 5 Napkin," which includes cheese, bacon, a fried egg, Good Stuff sauce, and like all the burgers, farm-fresh beef from Maryland-based Capital Meats.
Next week, the Top Chef gang including Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, and a bunch of Mendelsohn's New York buds, will visit the nation's capital for the burger joint's opening bash.
If given the chance, would you eat at a restaurant opened by a former Top Cheffer?
Definitely at Sam's, Richard's, Stephanie's or Howard's, but not at Spike's restaurant. I know Howard has a restaurant, but haven't kept up with the others.
lol @ Southern_bella - shame she'll never read your comment, as a blogger you can't afford to go to a _real_ restaurant... :roll:
- I'd certainly eat at one of the top chef places. I'm bummed Blaze up closed. Spike, although a little underhanded in the competition, knows his meat...
I'd like to see a good Aussie Hamburger which ALWAYS has SLICED BEETS from a tin. In Sydney we always have standard burgers: fried onion, lettuce, tomato, beetroot (Beets) In some joints you have to ask for them. Extras include Fried egg, tasty cheese & fried bacon rasher. When I make one at home I have an open burger with mayo on one side, lettuce, tomato, beet(root),fried egg with melted cheese, slice fried bacon & squirt of tomato sauce-Other side is mayo, Avocado, tomato, large pattie with fried onion on top & another squirt of tomato sauce If Spike coud make me one I'd definitely eat at his place or any other Top Chef's eatery
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13 Comments:
Yep, I'd eat in a former Top Cheffer's joint... as long as it didn't involve that asshat Lisa.
Southern_bella at 8:21PM on 07/08/08
Definitely, that egg sandwich sounds delicious!
Carosone at 8:38PM on 07/08/08
didn't you just mention another burger place that does the "5 napkin" thing...geez...where's the originality! 4 napkins? a handful?
jslander at 8:47PM on 07/08/08
Definitely at Sam's, Richard's, Stephanie's or Howard's, but not at Spike's restaurant. I know Howard has a restaurant, but haven't kept up with the others.
Kimc54 at 9:26PM on 07/08/08
lol @ Southern_bella - shame she'll never read your comment, as a blogger you can't afford to go to a _real_ restaurant... :roll:
- I'd certainly eat at one of the top chef places. I'm bummed Blaze up closed. Spike, although a little underhanded in the competition, knows his meat...
Duc_m750 at 10:48PM on 07/08/08
Sure...every place is worth a try and I will be in DC next weekend...my daughter is interning and attends GWU...
triza at 8:39AM on 07/09/08
Well, I dont know if he can make a burger or Not?
I do Know that he is unable to produce a compelling sign.
(The sign is Stupid ...and so is the Hat!)
phauxtoe at 8:41AM on 07/09/08
@Duc, sure she will, she reads the blogs because it gives her something to bitch and complain about, which is what she does best...
I'm so dejected that I can't afford to eat wherever it is she's ruining food these days.
Maybe some of us could save money for a couple of months and meet up there and share an appetizer?
Southern_bella at 9:34AM on 07/09/08
@jslander: Yup! Here's Adam's review of the Five Napkin Burger in Hell's Kitchen.
I'm still waiting for the Five Paper Towel Burger.
Erin Zimmer at 9:57AM on 07/09/08
Definitely! I agree with the tragic hat comment but hey, this isn't Project Runway!
divaofyum at 10:15AM on 07/09/08
I will eat anywhere that has Siracha on the table, even if the food sucks Siracha will make it sublime.
UncleTupelo at 11:11AM on 07/09/08
I'd go in a heartbeat. Bet it would be great. Except if the restaurant was owned/operated by Lisa. Then, no thank you. I'm with you Southern Bella.
Butrflygirly at 12:22PM on 07/20/08
I'd like to see a good Aussie Hamburger which ALWAYS has SLICED BEETS from a tin. In Sydney we always have standard burgers: fried onion, lettuce, tomato, beetroot (Beets) In some joints you have to ask for them. Extras include Fried egg, tasty cheese & fried bacon rasher. When I make one at home I have an open burger with mayo on one side, lettuce, tomato, beet(root),fried egg with melted cheese, slice fried bacon & squirt of tomato sauce-Other side is mayo, Avocado, tomato, large pattie with fried onion on top & another squirt of tomato sauce If Spike coud make me one I'd definitely eat at his place or any other Top Chef's eatery
KrystynaInSydney at 9:50PM on 01/06/09