Well Fed Network

Posted by Cate O’Malley on Edible TV

Or at least he will be very soon.  Chef Sam Talbot became known for a little more than his cooking as he made his way through Bravo TV’s Top Chef Season 2 … his good looks quickly earned him a following amongst the female viewers as well.  But now recently engaged to model and clothing designer, Paola Guerrero, you all will just have to admire from afar. 

Besides wooing Paola, Sam is now running his own restaurant, Surf Lodge, in Montauk, New York, where celebrities have been known to be spotted munching on the seafood selections.  Recently the new restaurant owner sat down with People magazine’s Alyssa Shelasky to fill her in on what’s been going on lately.

How’s life as a beach bum?
I feel like I’m in a movie.  I’ve picked up wakeboarding; it’s like snowboarding in the water.  It’s getting me in shape.

What’s the biggest problem you’ve had in opening your own place?
There’s a 500-gal. propane tank you have to fill - who knew?  It was Saturday, 8 pm; there was no gas.  We knocked on someone’s door, and we’re like, “Dude, we have to borrow your gas tank.”

Ever resent being “the cute guy from Top Chef?”
The sex-symbol thing is flattering and funny.  But my love life was pretty much good-to-go before.

We hear you’re off the market.
I am happily engaged to a [model and T-shirt designer] named Paola Guerrero.  She’s amazing.  She’s Colombian.  I met her in Brazil on my 30th birthday.

What was the first meal you cooked for her?
She’s a vegetarian, so I whipped up a salad of roasted black chickpeas, pickled watermelon, arugula, lemon and oil vinaigrette.  But if your date isn’t a vegetarian, start off with oysters.

Any summer barbecue advice?
Grill seafood.  Keep it simple with a basic marinade, like lemon juice and olive oil.  Season and serve.

Everyone loves to eat lobster, but no one likes to kill them.  Tips?
Buy cheap vodka and soak the lobsters for a few hours.  They don’t know it’s coming because they’re basically drunk.  Or buy frozen quality lobster meat for a phenomenal lobster roll.

For us non-cooks, what’s an easy way to fake a meal?
Don’t fake it.  I like to teach people about good food.  As a guy, it’s empowering to show you things.  And women should never fake anything.

Photo from People.