Regarding Michael Chiarello’s first Napa restaurant Tra Vigne, close friend Carmen Policy says, “The food was great. But the truth: I loved Michael’s personality… He’s got a little of the Bill Clinton in him. When he’s talking to you, he makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room.” This comes from Sunday’s Chron profile (online two days late) of the celebrity chef, who was allegedly insecure about opening Bottega in Napa in 2008 because of the glut of Italian restaurants already up there. Also notable, he’s not an absentee exec; he’s on site at Bottega almost every day.
Michael Chiarello’s Bottega brings chef full circle [Chron]
Earlier: Chiarello to Team with Seacrest for Show About Lost Recipes [Grub Street]
