The Blackstone Chicago's Top Toque Gets Named the 'Next Iron Chef'

Mercat a la Planxa's chef de cuisine J. Michael Fiorello and executive chef/Iron Chef Jose Garces.

Jose Garces recently won the Food Network's Next Iron Chef competition, putting him in the distinguished culinary ranks of Mario Batali, Cat Cora and Bobby Flay. But there seems to be a bit of a controversy surrounding his win: Philly is claiming the chef as one of its own, since Garces primarily resides there and owns several restaurants in the city, but The Blackstone a Renaissance Chicago Hotel is calling dibs, since he was born in the Windy City and serves as the executive chef of the hotel's Mercat a la Planxa.

Having the executive chef title doesn't mean that Garces is always in the kitchen. But it does mean that you can taste his trademark Latin cooking style at Mercat, which specializes in Catalan tapas.

Since "a la planxa" refers to cooking on a grill, it's no surprise that the menu's filled with grilled meats and seafood like octopus with confit potato and smoked paprika, and�if you're really starved�the cochinillo asado, a whole-roasted suckling pig that feeds four (you have to order this piggy 72 hours ahead of time).

But there's a bunch of other options, including a list of cured meats, regional cheeses, flatbreads, and traditional tapas like bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with almonds and a Spanish omelette served with spinach, potatoes and saffron aioli.

If you're around during the week, stop by for Mercat's Monday Funday deal: $1.99 sangrias all night long in the restaurant lounge. But you'd be remiss if you didn't at least nibble on something; the newly crowned Iron Chef also won a 2009 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. The Beard Awards are to chefs what Oscars are to actors. Wait a minute, "Mid-Atlantic" chef? Don't tell the Blackstone folks.

[Photo: Mercat a la Planxa's Facebook]

Comments (6)

Return to » The Blackstone Chicago's Top Toque Gets Named the 'Next Iron Chef'

Mid-Atlantic James Beard award for his restaurant "Amada" in Philly! Which is my favorite restaurant in Philly! And sorry Chicago, He is philly's Iron Chef because he have 4 restaurants here and counting! (another one opening soon!)

This article is missing a lot of relevant information. First, it mentions his James Beard nomination, but neglects to state that he is now a recipient of the award. Also, sorry to call you out James, but he has five restaurants in Philly. Amada, Chifa, Distrito, Tinto, and Village Whiskey, and more on the way. Obviously, this site has a preference for Chicago over Philly.

Rdeskins3, thanks for pointing out his recent James Beard Award win, which we've included. There's no preference for Chicago or Philly on the site, but we do cover hotels and Mercat is housed in one. Plus, it's notable because it's the chef's only restaurant outside of Philly and we did mention he acted mostly as an absentee exec chef in Chicago. But the city of Philly obviously has the bigger advantage, since the chef's food is more readily accessible there.

Hah Rdeskin3, I totally forgot about Chifa (which in my opinion is his weakest restaurant, maybe that's why it slipped off my mind). But thanks for pointing out! Cheers!

Chifa is actually my favorite. The Peruvian/Cantonese cuisine is very unique, but I can certainly understand why some would not be as interested as myself. Allegedly, he has a few more on the horizon in the near future. I can't wait.
Jennifer, thanks for making the correction so quickly. I wish the NYTimes and Philly Inquirer would take note. They are probably still reporting that Dewey beat Truman.

I cook @ Mercat. My friends have been to all of his restaurants. The general foodie consensus: Mercat is currently his strongest restaurant.

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