Many Restaurant Professionals Deserve Thanks

(Blogger's Note: This is the second in a three part series. Annually, I thank many of the people who have contributed, in one way or another, to this column throughout the year.)

When I first met AndrewZimmern he was toiling over his boss while cooking a French menu at Caf? Un Deux Trois in Minneapolis.  Zimmern is one of the most generous, gracious guys I've ever met.  His talent for creating culinary genius before the Twin  Cities became acceptable to foodies has become legendary in Minneapolis. He put Un Duex Trois on the map. In Zimmern's trek to be a TV culinary celebrity and authority on all things food, he has never lost the focus that has made him as successful as he is. Zimmern could have an ego the size of the IDS building, however he doesn't. He's a Melon's guy. You can belly up next to him at any bar in the country, or now the world, and begin a conversation and his interest will be genuine. On a recent visit to the Twin Cities I had 20 minutes to kill. I walked into Zimmern's office, and after not seeing each other for years we traded affectionate greetings and spoke as though we had been in each other's company the day before. Zimmern is big in food, but has managed to stay little. T

I have to thank my wife, Kranston, for her patience in all things having to do with restaurants. It is almost impossible to go to a restaurant with me unless you want a Howard Cosell styled blow by blow commentary on the missteps of everything in the place. She has patience beyond believe. I am so very thankful of that.

I can't forget Tony Qunpamornchai of Sea Thai Bistro. The consummate host and hospitality guru leads his team in an envious fashion seven nights a week and never misses a step.  He has two of the best restaurants in Northern California. I would love to get Zimmern and Tony together. Zimmern introduced me to Street Fair Noodles in Minneapolis one night when he prepared the dish for the staff at Caf? Un Deux Trois. Tony feeds my hunger for the dish regularly. I would be thankful for a Street Fair Noodle Smack Down.

Sondra Bernstein is a visionary in small town. Sondra is the girl of The Girl and the Fig. Constantly working, focused, and fine tuning each of her properties in a journey towards perfection, Bernstein should get a huge thank you from the City of Sonoma. Her culinary adventure is definitely plus as she leads the dining scene in that town on a nightly basis. Her newest venture, Estate, moved an old historic Sonoma eatery into the modern day century.

Perry Butler is an old time restaurant owner who mastered the art of good food, great ambiance, and personable hospitality nearly 40 years ago. And although he knows the business better than most he continues his trip by constantly expanding locations and looking for new ones. He recently opened on Steuart St. in San Francisco. His location at the San Francisco Airport serves the best food of any airport restaurant in the country. Every traveler that ever ate a burger in an airport should give thanks for Perry's.