Grilled: 2007 StarChefs Rising Stars Revue

Doug Psaltis, Country at The Carlton Hotel

Worst current dining trend?
Molecular gastronomy. I think we are getting too far away from our roots with food that is unidentifiable. We need to get back to educating our staff and clients about what classical food is. I think that it is ironic that we go to grocery stores and read food labels and beg for a drink that doesn’t have a million chemicals in it, while molecular gastronomic chefs are using chemicals inside of their cuisine. It’s ironic that we celebrate heirloom, organic, local but at the same time celebrate dishes with chemicals.

What was the last great celebrity spotting in your restaurant?
This is a tough one. Will Smith. He eats! The only restrictions on his diet were pork and beets, and he wanted a luxury item, like truffles. It’s fantastic to find somebody who can sit down and enjoy a three-to-four-hour experience. Jada and him are big fans of white truffles, so they had a few courses with that.