Akhtar Nawab
Elettaria
Most horrific thing you've seen happen in a kitchen?
The most horrific thing is when the fire suppression system went off. It sprayed a chemical. We had to throw everything out, clean up and tell the customers what happened. Some were given certificates to come back. Some stayed around until we cleaned up.
What kitchen tool scares you the most?
The band saw. It's like a butcher's saw—it’s an upright blade, spinning teeth at you. I have never been comfortable with that. A couple of years ago, a person in the kitchen cut the tip of his finger off. It's really fucking dangerous. It pulls everything in. You really have to position yourself properly.
Freakiest thing you've ever tasted?
Sea cucumber. It's got a very gelatinous, weird texture. That and spiced crickets that you get in South America and Mexico. They think of them as popcorn.
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Neil Manacle
Apiary
Most horrific thing you've seen happen in a kitchen?
There was a line cook of mine a few years ago, who was carrying a sheet pan of hot polenta and he slipped and it slid off his neck, down his shoulder and his arm. He was burned pretty bad and had to be taken to the hospital. He was out of work for a long time.
The tool that has caused you the most injury.
When I was a line cook at Pawtucket Country Club in Rhode Island, I split my hand nearly in two when a roll of saran wrap slid out of my hand and the teeth sawed directly through the space between my middle finger and my ring finger. I just saw a lot of blood. If you look at my hand you can see scar tissue. Even the chef was white. He drove me to the hospital begging, “Don't bleed on the seats.”
Freakiest thing you've ever tasted?
I was down in Mexico. It was these little worms that they deep-fry. They’re white and about 3 inches. They were pretty ugly to look at it., but they tasted pretty good. It was like a crispy cheese French fry.
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Sohui Kim
Good Fork
Most horrific thing you've seen happen in a kitchen?
This woman was carrying caramel and she slipped and got some of the hot caramel on her arm and got second-degree burns. The skin just sort of fell off because it was so hot. People don't realize, but caramel is really dangerous.
What kitchen tool scares you the most?
The handheld Japanese mandolin. It can do some real damage. The quick motion can slice off the an eighth of an inch off your finger. I’ve seen that happen many times.
Whose chef’s cooking embodies Halloween?
Wylie Dufresne, because he’s a mad scientist with his food. Oh, and Anita Lo. She is definitely not afraid to use a lot of ingredients and is not afraid to push the limit, but not to the point of making it repulsive.
What dish embodies Halloween for you?
Blood sausage.
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Juventino Avila
Bonita
What was your scariest kitchen moment?
One day I was working in a kitchen in New York City, and half the kitchen walked out in protest right before service because of the way they were being treated by upper management. I had just started there, and I didn't know what was going on.
Freakiest thing you’ve ever eaten?
A rooster's comb. I had that at Casa Mono. It was texture thing. I had to try it. The taste wasn't memorable. What was memorable was the texture. It was rubbery and gelatinous. It wasn't the whole thing—it was pieces—but you could tell what it was because it had the combs on top.
Who’d you want to cook a Halloween meal for you?
Anthony Bourdain. That guy has seen it all.
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Hali Horn
Mama's Mudsliders
What's the freakiest thing you've ever tasted?
Durian fruit. It's a mind-over-matter thing. The texture-smell combination throws a lot of people for a loop. My roommates in college were fans and took me to Chinatown. I didn't want to be rude. The fruit went down. It was some of my finest acting.
What pastry best embodies Halloween?
Red velvet cake in a heartbeat. It looks like blood.
Who would you want cook the ultimate Halloween meal?
Martha Stewart. She would coordinate everything.
What kitchen tool scares you the most?
We have a magnetic knife rack and it can get pretty crowded sometimes, and one of the knives falls and you see it happening and you just jump out of the way. I know everyone makes fun of pastry cooks that they don't have sharp knives, but they’re still pretty sharp
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