A Top Chef Reunion At Graffiato's Oven-Warming Party

Grid View

• Top Chef reunion time!
• Isabella and The Source's Scott Drewno.
• Victor Albisu (BLT Steak) and Adam Sobel (Bourbon Steak) maybe talking about steak?
• Tiffany MacIsaac and Kyle Bailey representing the Neighborhood Food Group.
• Joe Palma (Westend Bistro) and Victor Albisu (BLT Steak).
• No rest for the weary.

Last night Mike Isabella opened up the top floor of Graffiato for an "oven-warming" party to celebrate his two-and-a-half-week-old restaurant. The chef's closest Top Chef-famous friends, big-name DC chefs and, of course, plenty of media types. Prosecco flowed freely from the taps and the kitchen churned out plenty of pizza and apps for the people.

1) Despite a torrential downpour just as the party was starting, Graffiato was bumping — and well past when the party was scheduled to end at 10:30 p.m.

2) Top Chef roll call: Jen Carroll, Spike Mendelsohn, Kevin Sbraga, Dale Talde, Carla Hall and Stephen Asprinio mixed and mingled. Bryan Voltaggio, a partner in the restaurant, was supposed to be there, too, but he probably had a decent excuse, what with the recent birth of his child and all.

3) DC chefs represented last night, too. Joe Palma (Westend Bistro), Victor Albisu (BLT Steak), Frederik de Pue (Smith Commons), and Adam Sobel from Bourbon Steak were milling around. The Source's Scott Drewno was off the crutches he had to use at the Rammys, but still wearing a boot. Kyle Bailey and Tiffany MacIsaac were there, too, very humble about their his-and-her Rammy wins for rising culinary star and pastry chef, respectively.

4) While the revelers reveled, the kitchen didn't stop. Staff brought out plates of pizza — including the market and Jersey Shore varieties. There was some scuttlebutt that Isabella is already considering taking the pork and beans pizza off the menu. A resistance has been fomented.

· All Previous Mike Isabella Coverage [-EDC-]
· All Previous Graffiato Coverage [-EDC-]