Page 55 - Prestige

Telegenic

Toque

By Roger Grody

he only individual to compete on
three seasons of Bravo’s hit series
TTop Chef, Casey Thompson personi-
fies today’s celebrity-driven culinary scene. Back-
ing up her telegenic charisma with polished skills, however,
the chef has parlayed her celebrity status into prestigious
kitchen assignments and consulting gigs. This year the
native Texan debuts as executive chef at the idyllic Inn at
Rancho Santa Fe, outside of San Diego.
Thompson’s passion for cooking emerged at a young
age, assisting her grandmothers whose respective heri- The culinary skills of Casey Thompson, a fan
tages — one deeply rooted in the American South, the favorite from Bravo’s Top Chef, prove she’s
other honoring French traditions — continue to inspire her
in the kitchen. Now a Napa Valley resident, the young chef more than just a television personality.
is married to Michael DeSantis, co-founder of Harumph
Wines, and her cooking is increasingly influenced by the
California wine country.
PHOTO © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ARTISTEER the pinnacle of Dallas fine dining. The restaurant took a
A young woman with no formal training, Thompson
showed up at the door of Mansion on Turtle Creek, long

chance on her as a prep cook, which meant endless hours
of husking corn and chopping celery. Recognizing her
potential, legendary chef Dean Fearing mentored Thomp-
son, who proceeded to work her way through every sta-
tion on the line, eventually ascending to the position of
sous chef. Her first executive chef position was at Dallas’
Shinsei, an innovative pan-Asian restaurant, and she later

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