El Camino Real has announced its new executive chef: Dustin Chalermkittichai has a resume as impressive and extensive as his last name: Education at the French Culinary Institute in New York, employment at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s (London), Maze (another Gordon Ramsay restaurant in London), Arzak (Donostia, NE Spain), Waverly Inn (New York), and most recently, he was sous chef at Rouge in our own Philadelphia. Chalermkittichai promises to apply exotic techniques to bbq such as sous-vide (essentially slow-cooking in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag, sous-vide does carry a risk of botulism, but when done correctly is scrumptious).
Chalermkittichai replaces Jennifer Zavala, who is now at Xochitl and was the first to be kicked off the current season of Top Chef. Those two tidbits, Zavala has assured us, are unrelated.
Yes, I will go to the restaurant just because of his last name. Points, Real.
FYI..Jen Zavala’s short lived stint as sous chef at Xochitl has ended..she has moved on
is it wrong for me to recommend that they make an alcoholic chai drink and just name it dude’s last name? cmon.
Wow FINALLY they get a respectable chef, not some stoner chick that tries to impress Collichio and Puck with Seitan. Ozzy can take his wonderful chef back anytime!
He looks like a cute little boy ….but the grits, sous vide egg and cracklin.perfect!!!!
I neighbor el camino real and have to say the food is comperable to any anywhere.smart pairings (the specials) well done and made by people who care good job chef and team.
Let me point out something. The Chefs real name is Dustin Robinson. I worked with him at Opus 251 back in 2001. This dude never went to French Culinary and has spent time hopping around kitchens between Philadelphia, Birmingham Alabama and some stints in New York City. Please people I challenge you to question me. This dude is a total scam artist and fraud. Here is a link of him working a kitchen in Alabama
http://www.chefanthonymarini.com/anthony_marini
Dear Aaron,
Not even close to being Dustin with that picture. I know him. You’re an idiot.
That is a different picture than when I posted it. I worked with dude side by side for 3 months at Opus 251. I know who Dustin Robinson is. Next time you see him ask him if his name is Dustin Robinson. See the reaction you get.
another thing, look on his myspace page and see the jacket he is wearing. You can see the name Dustin Robinson. Its frauds like him that give talented, proven chefs a bad name. I am glad i rid myself of that profession years ago.
He does have two last names because people can’t pronounce his last name. So the fuck what? He can cook and that’s all that matters. I could give a shit why he has two last names. Can he cook? Is he running a proper kitchen? Is he better the Jen (YES)?
What exactly is he scamming? He is working and seems to be making the menu way better. How exactly is he a fraud? Two last names doesn’t do that. I mean Chalemkittchai. I would take Robinson too.