Superstar chefs are so sensitive these days, especially the unlikely ones.  In the latest issue of New York Magazine, David Chang talks about the stress of running Ssam Bar and contemplates the greener pasture of Vegas.  Never mind Tony Bourdain’s comment that Vegas is the elephant’s graveyard for celebrity chefs. Chang and Vegas is a match made in heaven. In the M&A world we would call this a perfect synergy. What better strategic fit for MGM or Cesare’s Palace than a Momofuku Ssam Bar. It’s the ultimate bridge between the all you can eat buffet bar and Joel Robuchon’s Mansion.  It even capitalizes on the needs of a Vegas niche market-the Asian compulsive gamblers. They will be lining up at the Ssam bar when they discover that with the ease and mobility of a Ssam burrito or bowl,  they will never have to leave the gambling table or slot machines.

 

Contrary to what everyone believes, I don’t hate the Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssam or David Chang for that matter.  I merely said that Ssam is not my kind of place as a person who cannot eat meat.  For all I know it may be the ultimate meat eater’s heaven.  In reality, I was being kind. The ill-conceived and messy burrito I had from Ssam could only appeal to one type of crowd-the taste blind. It had so much gook on it that it drowned out all flavors of the endmame beans and the mushrooms. Since I cannot try anything else on the menu, I conceded that perhaps the meat dishes were stronger in representation of the Ssam bar.

 

That did not stop Mr. Chang from calling my friend Gary asking why I trashed him and whining that all his friends were making fun of him because he got trashed by a girl. Wait, does that mean, it is much better to get trashed by a guy?  Does he discriminate against who he gets trashed by?

 

Maria, the sweet lady married to Will Goldfarb, thought perhaps he was under a lot of stress, and was overly sensitive to my “criticism”. Poor guy.

 

The New York magazine did give me a clue on how I should present the “statement” next time I encountered Chang at a party. As he said in the magazine ‘I’ve got nothing against vegetarians, I just don’t want to cook for them.’ Well, I got nothing against Ssam bar either, I just don’t want to eat there.