The Times has an interesting piece about chef-turned-TV-star Rocco DiSpirito concerning his move away from the kitchen and into the limelight.
“He’s almost gotten to the point where people in the food world feel sorry for him and want him back,” said Michael Ruhlman, a cookbook author who has written for The New York Times. “He’s this really brilliant guy, foodwise, who’s forsaken everything that he’s good at for something that he’s not good at. And that makes me really sad.”
As interesting as DiSpirito is, Jeff Gordinier manages to capture the oddity that is the chef. PBS made celebrities out of the likes of Julia Child, but when did we move from PBS to Rachel Ray? Chefs are no longer mythic figures who exist in white smocks behind swinging, silver doors. They are celebrities and Paparazzi objects. But where’s my crème brûlée?

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
The NYT’s piece should not be given that amount of credit
Rocco is a chef that doesnt cook in a NY restaurant. Thats astounding. He hasnt cooked in a restaurant for 4 years.
Lets see what else we learned. Rocco was from Queeens… thats in every bio and his facebook page.
Has a few “old” food writiers and restaurant critics that feel sorry for him
Well I dont think Rocco feels bad about..
1. his looks, dates, friends and family
2 his cash, from all the commercial ventures, Tv shows and books,
3 his talent to cook, that he can use whenever he pleases
4. his restaurant offers. or just freedom to live exactly how he pleases
The NYTs did another worthless profile on a interesting person!