More than three years after winning the hearts and minds of the home audience through his season seven victory on Top Chef, Michael Voltaggio takes yet another title today as Southern California’s sole winner of a Food & Wine “Best New Chef” award. Of course, Voltaggio is far from new and no stranger to accolades, despite a previously made (and far-off allegation) that he “coasted into culinary fame.”
The 34-year-old cooked in professional kitchens from the time he was a teen, famously holding down an apprenticeship at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, working under Charlie Palmer and Arnaud Berthelier, and opening The Bazaar in 2008 and earning the restaurant a James Beard nomination as its chef de cuisine. More likely, the award is giving recognition to ink., which along with the neighboring sandwich shop, ink.sack, Voltaggio opened in 2011 as his first solo project after departing The Dining Room at The Langham Hotel.
Over on Twitter, the chef is busy accepting fans’ congratulations and clarifying that the award is not for “Best Nude Chef.” [GS]
