We’ve heard from Wylie Dufresne before about the chefs and dishes that have influenced his career, including Michel Bras and Joël Robuchon. But what’s equally fascinating is the massive influence that he has had on the current restaurant scene, particularly in New York. In the decade since his modernist restaurant wd~50 launched on the Lower East Side, he’s fostered some of the most talented chefs, pastry pros, and bartenders working today, including Alex Stupak, Christina Tosi, and Mario Carbone.
Over on Grubstreet, Jordana Rothman (she of the epic brunch hate) has done some serious legwork to put together an epic wd~50 family tree, breaking down 28 people who have been a part of the restaurant’s already-legendary run.
Did you know that Jean-Georges is a partner in wd~50? Or that it was Wylie’s father, Dewey, who originally hired drinks wizard Eben Freeman (now part of the Michael White empire) to run the bar program? Check out the story to get schooled to the game.
[via Grubstreet]