Prix-fixe: $100,000
Wearing dark blue jeans, a black V-neck T-shirt, shimmery gray blazer and a pair of classic Converse sneakers, Michael Voltaggio walked the first floor of the Macy’s Home store at South Coast Plaza. He had one hand in his jeans pocket and the other pointing at items, comparing prices, reading the labels and picking out what he wanted.
On Monday morning, the 31-year-old winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef” Season 6 was splurging thanks to the $100,000 shopping spree he had won in the food show competition.
“It’s so surreal,” said Voltaggio, who started his spree Sunday and continued Monday. “How awesome! I have $100,000 to spend at Macy’s.”
Following him around the department store was Mojgan Panah, his Macy’s personal shopper with a bridal scanner, which scanned the items Voltaggio picked out.
An $800 espresso machine, check; seven batter mixers — one in each color — check; six hand blenders, check. Knives, pans, pots — check, check, check.
At that point, Voltaggio wasn’t even halfway done with his shopping. He still had nine floors at the three Macy’s stores at South Coast to go through. Aside from the $8,000 watch that he bought, Voltaggio still had plans to buy some suits and gifts for family members.
Voltaggio, who lives in Los Angeles, has been cooking since he was 16. His restaurant, The Dining Room at The Langham Hotel in Pasadena, is a one-star Michelin Guide restaurant.
Unlike most accomplished chefs, Voltaggio never graduated from a culinary school. He, however, completed a three-year apprenticeship at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, which, he said, is the oldest-running European-style apprenticeship. He calls himself an artist, rather than a cook.
At his restaurant, the smallest offering is a six-course meal.
“You’re not just going for dinner. It’s your entertainment, it’s your meal, it’s your everything,” he said.
One of Voltaggio’s most popular dishes is pigeon pastrami. His cooking uses a lot of European techniques and American flavors.
Voltaggio gets his inspiration from Peter Timmins and Arnold Berthelier, the chefs he worked under during his apprenticeship, and Jose Andres, whom he worked with to open the Bazaar in Beverly Hills.
Voltaggio spent 14 weeks filming the “Top Chef” show in Las Vegas. His brother, Bryan, who has his own restaurant in Maryland, was also one of the show’s contestants. He came in second. Voltaggio said he was confident he would win.
He chose the South Coast Plaza Macy’s because it is the flagship store in Southern California.
“I have nine levels of shopping,” he said.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.