Jaunted

Despite making some pretty impressive dishes along the way, Jeff never fully fit into the Top Chef format. As fellow chef'testant Carla put it, Jeff "couldn't quiet the creative monkey and reign it in" and always went way too complicated for what the challenge called for, trying to do too much in too little time. So we're wondering, just where does Jeff let this creative monkey run wild in real life?

Turns out Jeff is the chef at the DiLido Beach Club in Miami, and it looks like he does back up his game with some out-there-but-reigned-in recipes. At the club, set on top of the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, Jeff whips up your traditional hotel restaurant offerings with a few crazy Middle Eastern twists. The "club" sandwich is fried green tomatoes with feta mousse, arugula mayo and harissa ketchup; the Caesar salad comes with falafel crotons and manchego cheese; and the fried oysters and done in a chickpea and saffron batter with spinach and chorizo. Sounds like he's got some inventive ideas there – hope they give him enough time!

· The DiLido Beach Club [Official Site]
· Radhika Loses 'Restaurant Wars' But Still Cooks for Chicago Restauranta> [Jaunted]
· Checking In At Jamie's Place [Jaunted]

Photo: [Bravo]