I got to thinking about Chefs after my encounter with James Viles of Biota Dining at the Truffle Kerfuffle festival last month. Being given a ticket to see a chef in action in the Chef’s Cabin at this festival was always going to be a treat, I love eating out & being given an insight into the meal being prepared by one of Australia’s most talented Chef’s was always going to be amazing.
What I didn’t know about James Viles, is that he looks like this.
Yep, super cute!
I’ve had a thing for guys in the kitchen for a long time. I’m pretty sure my high school year book would list somewhere my ambition to one day marry a Chef. Yep, I know. I’ve always aimed high – ha!
Back then, when I was in high school & dinosaurs roamed, there was no such thing as a celebrity chef. (Other than Gabriel Gate on Burke’s Backyard & I don’t remember him really floating my boat!)
There was no reality TV, lifestyle TV channels & endless cooking programmes. My love affair with Chefs back then was purely about the food. I love food! The entertaining, the theme, the menu. I loved how it was all put together, the theatre of cuisine & a restaurant. I still do.
Talent, drive, passion & creativity are pretty attractive traits in anybody. I’m sure this is the basis of what makes a Chef so attractive to me. Plus the fact they could whip you up a pretty darn amazing Friday night stir fry after a long week doesn’t go astray either.
However, I quickly learnt chefs work bloody hard & really awful hours. I was strictly warned off a pastry chef in particular! All those calories! So long ago I gave up on the idea of the love of my life being my own personal Chef.
But times have changed & lucky for me, my love affair with men who can cook is now available pretty much every night of the week on TV. I’ve got a few favourites gourmets & just like James Viles up there, it’s not all about looks…. but hey, it can’t hurt right?
So, Chefs I love…
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Jamie Oliver – wow, staying power, an amazing business & family man, what’s not to love?
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Adam Liaw – brains, creativity & a man bun – oh yeah!
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Curtis Stone – stereotypical surfie Australian boy made good in the US, mega-watt smile & who doesn’t love the way he says ‘straya” on the Coles ads?
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Heston Blumental – a sense of humour & boy next door style, his mix of chemistry & creativity makes him super cool!
There’s loads of ladies I love too, don’t get me wrong. But that’s for another day!
Just for the record, James was super cute, clever, funny & generous. And boy can he cook! I also have to shout out to my own Mr D who quite likes spending time in the kitchen, what he lacks in cooking creativity he sure makes up for enthusiasm! Love him!
What about you – have you got a favourite Chef? Someone whose restaurant you’ve been to & loved, or somewhere you’d love to visit?