Monday, March 17, 2008

Peterson's Loses Allford

The latest word is that star pastry chef Joseph Allford is leaving the post-Karl Benko Peterson's. No word on where Allford, responsible for everything from the northside steakhouse's artful desserts to the tiny post-dinner chocolates, will land for his next restaurant gig.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I always thought that those post-dinner chocolates looked an awful lot like the ones that come from Ghyslain. Are you sure they didn't just have those sent in?

It's funny what a feature in a local magazine can do for someone's career. The Indy Monthly called him an innovator, but I've always heard he's nothing more that a brat.

braingirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
braingirl said...

Let me rephrase:

Is a write up in Dine or IM good for one's career? Maybe. Or is just doing consistently excellent work the trick? I suspect the latter.

One can be an innovator and high strung at the same time, although Allford has always been perfectly polite and gracious to me. And there's no denying that he is doing pastry at a significantly higher level than any other pastry chefs I've seen in Indy -- including professional bakery chefs. (That was made very evident to us in one of the recent Dine competitions.)

What he chooses to do with well-deserved recognition is his business. (There are a few other factors in play over at Peterson's these days, I suspect.) But pastry chefs tend to be the hidden heros -- and *really* good ones are often overlooked.

(I'll check on the chocolates. I might have old information.)

Anonymous said...

what did the deleted comment say?

braingirl said...

Heh -- it was my own comment with a couple of typos in it. I deleted and reposted more coherently.

Anonymous said...

Joseph makes the chocolates himself. And who gives a shit if he's a brat. The guys good. I judged in the same pastry competition with Braingirl and Joseph SMOKED every single entrant.

Anonymous said...

The husband had a business dinner at Peterson's last night, brought me home a massive piece of German chocolate cake. There is no way that thing was made by a pastry chef -- it tasted like it had been made my a mass production bakery that would make something for a grocery store. The chocolates were enjoyable though.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with Laker girl. In all the times I have enjoyed Peterson's I have always thought the desserts to be produced. Maybe not all of them but definately a few of them including the misgardines.

Anonymous said...

Wow -- totally different experiences here. The chocolate dome, cakes, and custards have always been one of my favorite parts of Peterson's. I guess I never just order plain cake.

Anonymous said...

I personally can vouch that Joseph made his own chocolates. And on more than one occasion voiced his hatred for the "damn cake" that Petersons did in fact have brought in.

I made deliveries to Joseph and he always seemed nice to me. Last month he said he wouldnt be using us anymore because the new GM and/or chef did not want to carry us. He did not hide his annoyance. I suspect such changes are what led to his departure, not his "recognition".

He made most of the desserts (brulee, souflee, zuccotto, etc) including the after dinner chocolates, and his ice creams were always good. He will land somewhere better and excel even more, I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

actually joseph WAS dismissed and it was probably because he would display inappropriate behavior with his fireman boyfriend in the bar at peterson's. Also his desserts were a little over the top 90% of the time. I DON"T want Lavender flavored cheesecake OR too break my teeth on coffee beans!

Anonymous said...

That's too bad since his "over-the-top" desserts were one of the things I really liked about Peterson's. With those gone and Karl's inventive dishes, I really have no reason to go back.

Anonymous said...

I would agree. When your GM, Exec. Chef, and Pastry Chef all leave within a month, there is a problem. It sounds like someone has a personal issue with the pastry chef as well. As the restaurant world turns.

braingirl said...

I want a fireman boyfriend!

Anonymous said...

One left, the other two were fired for cause, regarding "what was going on," and why they all left within a month. None of which had anything to do with anyone's boyfriend.

Anonymous said...

I heard from a good source the other day that Joseph has been spending time doing some work at Rene's....

Anonymous said...

I can say that all the desserts except the Choc Mile high are made in house. That is true to this day even with Joseph's departue.

It amazes me that people don't understand that with the level of talent at that restaurant, they will need to move on in order to better themselves. We should wish them all well and stand behind the current regime.

To my knowledge, no one can tell when they dine with there that both Karl and Joseph have let. Kudos to them for training their replacements so well.

Anonymous said...

I can say that all the desserts except the Choc Mile high are made in house. That is true to this day even with Joseph's departue.

It amazes me that people don't understand that with the level of talent at that restaurant, they will need to move on in order to better themselves. We should wish them all well and stand behind the current regime.

To my knowledge, no one can tell when they dine with there that both Karl and Joseph have let. Kudos to them for training their replacements so well.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I can not believe the way everyone is talking! I went to school with him and he is truly a nice person!!! It sounds like more people should be nice. I would like to see them try to make any of his desserts at home!!