We couldn’t help but notice the accusatory comments still cropping up on October’s post on El Camino Real‘s new chef, Dustin Chalermkittichai, or as he goes by now, Dustin Robinson. Robinson, recent sous chef at Rouge, acknowledges in a gruff American voice that he changed his name at age 19 for reasons which he didn’t care to comment on. When we spoke to him a second time, he said in an unmistakable English accent, “I don’t care to dignify [the accusations in the post that he didn't attend the French Culinary Institute],” but also did state that indeed, he did attend, a fact confirmed by the French Culinary Institute when we called them. There is always a chance that we missed the accent the first time, but… [insert gesture in lieu of words]. His MySpace page seems to confirm UK-ness, the correct last name, an updated list of companies, not to mention a penchant for hardcore pornography. (Fans of Pacific Rim Job, you’ve finally found a chef who speaks to you.)
An lastly, we should make the obvious comment that this in no way changes the menu at El Camino Real. The bbq brisket is still delicious, whether it was cooked by someone who tailored his history or someone who didn’t. Let us move on with our eating lives.
What is even more disturbing, according to his myspace page, is that he’s a fan of Dharma and Greg.
The english accent is 100% fake. I worked with him at Philadelphia Fish and Company last year. He is a complete fraud.
The Dharma and Greg thing is a joke you fuckin retard.
As of late my personal history has been brought up…Well, as much as I have tried over the years to forget most of it and obscure these memories from myself it is something that has to be just put out there….I like many others have problems.I’ve made poor choices and good ones, I’ve been a bad boyfriend and a good boyfriend, a bad husband, a good father and a devoted employee, I’ve hurt people and been hurt by people, I’ve had my personal life examined and have things I’ve said in confidence used against me. I changed my name as a sort of personal closure to a painful chapter of my life…My childhood has left me with an affected accent that I have tried over the years to suppress ( as to further seperate myself from “them”) but gets worse when I am unmedicated and genuinely frightened I. I am a stage II bi-polar with downcycle mania and the occasional night terror. I’ve beaten drug addiction, being starvingly poor, being raped as a child(for years), being adopted, being pushed out of my home….In the end I with my many faults and flaws would do anything for anyone. I am not asking for any kind of pity just listing some facts. I am wildly in love with a woman who after reading all of this my not look at me the same way….my once quiet life has been turned upside down……I am putting this out there with hopes that those with an axe to grind will let me be or will run out of ammunition whichever comes first….
judge me on my food I am a chef not a saint
Dustin Robinson
PS I fucking love Dharma and Greg!!!!!!
How bored are people? I am horrified the time and turmoil people have to respond to “queries” like this. Dustin I am sorry shit like this i posted on “legit’ websites.
If people are “phoodies” enjoy the fucking food! It is none of your business about the pain and past of your chef!
No matter what the history I have to say Dustins food speaks for itself, An absolute genious in the kitchen and I along with many others will follow him wherever he goes…. BTW who cares about the bullshit people need to get a life and stop worrying about other peoples