A Renaissance Chef

Filed in archive People Who Cook on May 28, 2006

Here's a chef who is far from boring his diners. For one, his menu changes according to season. And then he is so innovative he can easily combine old classics with the newest trends.

That's Alfred Portale, chef and co-owner of New York's Gotham Bar and Grill. He is known for "the dramatic vertical structures he creates on each plate" aside from the quality of the food, of course. And yes, what did we say about fusing tradition with innovation?

Portale finds that diners are willing to be slightly more adventurous if the dish also incorporates flavors that invoke fond memories. "There's a whole science about how a person can experience behavior and attitude changes triggered by taste," he said.

"If you put pumpkin together with nutmeg or allspice, it brings back your mom's pumpkin pie. So maybe I'll make a pumpkin risotto, which is a bit daring, but add a bit of nutmeg and, subconsciously, you'll be satisfied."

Read the full article Chef figures out what diners want from The Sentinel.

By the way, Chef Portale won this year's James Beard Foundation's national "chef of the year" award. Before heading to culinary school he trained as a jewelry designer. Talk about being multi-talented!