While Jackson Hole may have been obsessing over the non-wedding of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel nearly a week ago, it seems us fooderati missed actual celebrities in town.
Well, not all of us. The gang over at Fine Dining Restaurant Group happened to notice that Johnny Iuzzini was in town on his Cross-County, Food-Hunting Road Trip for Food and Wine magazine.
Coincidentally, that same weekend they also hosted Sylvia Weinstock, who was in town to make a cake for the wedding-that-was-rumored-to-be but-NOT-Justica.
Iuzzini, who is eating his way across America and announcing his destinations via Twitter, sent a tweet to restauranteur Gavin Fine after he receiving a recommendation for the Fine Dining restaurants from a foodie in Denver.
That night (Aug. 17), Fine and his dad took Iuzzini for a round of apps at Rendezvous Bistro (elk tartare and escolar carpaccio were served).
They then went to Il Villagio Osteria for dinner (Iuzzini documented everything he ate here). Coincidentally, Weinstock was dining there that same night. Apparently Weinstock and Iuzzini go way back in the pastry world. They sat at tables next to each other for dinner. And then the Fine Dining crew took Iuzzini to the Cowboy Bar for a night cap.
So folks, I am calling it; 2012 is the summer of celebrity chefs. In addition to our super fun day with Kent Rathbun, we also got to meet Ming Tsai (and we told him to eat sushi at our favorite place in his old San Francisco neighborhood). We hear there was a David Chang sighting at Trio. But we have yet to meet him. We’re hoping to be Lucky Peaches and catch up with him some day.
Until then, we are pretty psyched that Dishing’s newest Twitter follower is none other than Andrew Zimmern. Maybe he wants to come try a Rocky Mountain Oyster?
Another coup for Jackson Hole Restaurant’s this summer: a mention in Bon Appetit for The Virginian Lodge. The mag’s art director states: “The bacon and eggs, pancake, oatmeal and coffee free-for-all” made her family meal the best restaurant meal she had this year!
Photo from http://johnnyiuzzini.com/who-is-johnny/
