Ask The Chef: Jeff McInnis
Last night's Top Chef episode was tough to watch. About halfway through, I had a bad feeling that Jeff McInnis, of DiLido Beach Club and this season's sole South Florida representative, was doomed. Sure enough, he was told to pack his knives and go, after he lost to season two's Josie Malave-Smith in a head-to-head football-themed competition. Both had to create a dish that reflected the cuisine of the Dolphins' hometown, and both came up with variations on rock shrimp ceviche.
Chef McInnis was gracious enough to answer a few questions this afternoon about the episode, his life as a minor celebrity and how his cooking has (or hasn't) changed.
MP: What was it like watching last night's episode?
Jeff: It definitely brought back some old feelings. I wasn't happy about the outcome, but what can you do?
MP: You said in your exit interview that you serve that same ceviche dish at your restaurant. Is it still on the menu?
Jeff: Right now, it's not with rock shrimp, but I do it with mango and a sangria sorbet. Right now, I'm making it with hog snapper. It's a line-caught fish with a mild, nice flavor to it.
MP: You also mentioned in the exit interview that you felt you were being held to a higher standard. Can you explain what you meant by that?
Jeff: The critique that was given, it wasn't really a critique. They just said, 'you served a watered down version.' The only critique was that it was watered down and they didn't like it. I didn't have anything to go off of, which was frustrating. Josie served a dish that wasn't ceviche. It would've been more legitimate if she'd called it shrimp enchilado. Obviously those people were brought on the show as flying hitmen, so they weren't really held to the same standards. I think if I had served a hot ceviche to them, they would've called me out on it.
MP: Has the Top Chef experience altered the way you cook, if at all?
Jeff: Just the way I go shopping in the grocery store. I'm always looking at my watch and running around. No, just kidding. I guess I definitely think faster now. It definitely was a positive experience. And cooking for all of those amazing chefs and listening to their critiques definitely was great.
MP: Have you been recognized at all in Miami? Any weird fan stories?
Jeff: Yeah, I've been recognized a few times. I got letters from some people in jail. Some kid in jail thinks he's my long-lost cousin. I'm getting kind of nervous because I think he gets out in October, and he said he wants to come down and see me. It's a legitimate letter too. It's a real person; we looked him up. We have the same last name.
MP: Are you happy with how you were portrayed on TV?
Jeff: Sure, definitely. I think I wasn't portrayed as a bad guy.
MP: No, usually there's one villain a season, and this time it's Stefan.
Jeff: Stefan doesn't mind. He is actually downstairs in my restaurant right now. He doesn't mind at all. He wanted to do the interview with me, but I said it wasn't a good idea. I didn't think I'd get a word in.
MP: So you keep in touch with everyone?
Jeff: Yeah, with pretty much everyone. I definitely made a lot of great friends.
MP: Would you do something like this again?
Jeff: I definitely have no regrets. Would I do it a second time? I don't know about that. It takes a good chunk of your time. I'm married, and it was a long time away from my wife. But I don't regret that I did it.
Jeff McInnis [Official Site]
DiLido Beach Club [MenuPages]
DiLido Beach Club [Official Site]
Photo: Bravo
Comments
Jeff you sexy beast. Love you. You should have won.
Posted by: Ona | January 30, 2009 10:24 PM