Jim Fiala is the owner of four restaurants around town: Liluma in the Central West End, The Crossing in Clayton, Acero in Maplewood and The Terrace View downtown. But he’s also a chef. And you may not know it yet but those who wear the white coats at each of his acclaimed restaurants will soon battle one another for the grand daddy of cooking competitions: Taking on the boss.
The St. Louis Chef Wars start out Nov. 8 at The Terrace View with the restaurant’s chef, Brad Watts, taking on The Crossing’s Ian Vest in a six-course Bottleshock Smackdown. Watts will be putting his California cuisine up against Vest’s French fare in a six-course meal that will include wines from both France and California, including Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, which was featured in the 2008 movie, Bottleshock. A $100 ticket will buy you dinner, wine and the right to vote on the winner.
The chefs from Fiala’s other two spots around town, Adam Gnau of Acero and Nick Cox of The Terrace View, will battle it out in December, followed by the winners’ battle in January and the grand competition against Fiala in February.
Now, as the Iron Chef chairman would say, let the games begin! To make reservations, call 314.436.8855.
This article appears in Oct 1-31, 2010.