94 CHEF PROFILE
Off
Camera,
On Show
Q & A
Most boys growing up in New Jersey probably dream of being cops, firemen or pro footballers; did you always want to be a chef? I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a chef. I couldn’ t imagine doing anything else.
How influential was your win on the reality television show Top Chef? Top Chef is a life changer. Not just for me, but for my family and friends as well. It was the single most impactful event on my career.
How much of what we see in‘ reality’ television is truly real, and how does it compare to the pressures of being a restaurant chef and owner in the real world? Reality television is tough and not all shows are created equal. Top Chef is a real cooking competition; it’ s as real as it gets. There is definitely a big difference between being on Top Chef and actually running a restaurant. On television I was responsible for myself and needed to ensure that the judges were happy. At the restaurant I’ m responsible for my entire staff and making sure every guest that walks through my door is happy.
Chef Kevin Sbraga’ s eponymously-named restaurant in Philadelphia is the crown in a career spotlit by a Top Chef television victory and accentuated by innovation and finesse. Nick Walton chats with Sbraga on childhood aspirations, American cuisine and the power of reality TV.
American cuisine often gets a bad rap outside the US; define your vision of‘ modern American’ at Sbraga. Modern American cuisine to me is really just a mindset. We want to create delicious food, with global influence without being constrained by boundaries. I think the lack of patience hurts our [ Philadelphia’ s ] food scene. People are always in a rush and it’ s not always easy to have great food prepared so quickly. When it came to opening Sbraga, I knew what I wanted to do and had the concept mapped out. The most challenging thing was raising capital and building the confidence of investors. The Philly food scene is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing in the country. I think you will hear more and more about Philly in the next couple of years. www. jetsetter. hk