I'm addicted to Top Chef. I remember watching the first episode of the first season and loving every minute of the Irish guys meltdown and subsequent elimination. I DVR and watch episodes over and over to garner insight on techniques, kitchen equipment and presentation. My girlfriends and I will sit and watch marathons, drooling over the food and planning dinner parties.
We fawn over how beautiful Padma is and how she should lay off the botox, we crack up over The Don, Tom Colliccio's facial expressions when he's exasperated by a chef, we scrunch our noses over the utter paleness of Toby Young. We marvel at how Gail and her immense bosom can be seduced by the simple crunch of a salad and sometimes we'll coo over a guest judge if he's hot enough (Tyler Florence).
Over many season there have been many chefs that I've loved, but no one, not one chef has ever hit me like a tom the way Michael Voltaggio has. I am a sucker for a snarky man and an even bigger sucker for a snarky man that has an unbelievable talent. Mike V. has been likened to Picasso on two occasions and his culinary talent is so celebrated that a magazine compared his trying out for Top Chef to "Kobe Bryant trying out for a high school basketball team."
So far this season he's made only one misstep that I can remember and that was the halibut that he overcooked. I'm sure that I would have loved it though or at least I would have pretended to and if there was another faux pas in his cooking, I refuse to remember it.
When I think of Michael Voltaggio, I see Converse All-Stars and kick ass tattoos, a skate boy with a baseball cap...I'm 20 all over again. I love the dichotomy between his appearance and what he sets down on the table, well thought out and intelligent food that I'm sure tastes as good as it looks.
So let's get down to brass tacks. Michael Voltaggio is hot. Not traditionally though, he's kind of quirky looking but he's got that swagger and cocky attitude. He's like Mick Jagger in the kitchen. I love the intensity when he cooks and no one has ever looked sexier breaking down a rabbit! I love when he gets all quick tempered and exacting about how he wants his food presented. I love that he was thoughtful and respectful when cooking for the troops. I love that he's a total bitch about taking his time when his brother tells him to hurry up. I love that he just knows what he's doing is amazing. Most of all, I love that he looks like he would do terrible and utterly enjoyable things to you after a few shots of tequila.
Michael Voltaggio, I do believe I love you.
