Michel - the Past or Present Maestro? - Part I

Michel
1700 Tysons Blvd,
McLean, VA 22102
www.michaelrichardva.com

Michel is located in the former spot of Maestro at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner.  I’ve been wanting to go here for a while, ever since I found out a restautant had taken the place of Maestro and all the more so when I learned it was a Michel Richard restaurant.  Some of you may recognize the name, Michel Richard (it’s pronounce like Michelle - don’t ask me, it’s a French pronunciation), from what I would say is his flagship restaurant - Citronelle, located in Georgetown.  You may also know him from two episodes of Baking with Julia (circa 1995) or more recently in WETA’s Guide to Fine Dining(circa 2008).

My life is one step closer to complete.  We arrive at Tysons II and make our way to the restaurant from inside the mall a little before 6pm.  Our reservation for 3 (2 former coworkers and myself) was at 6pm.  After wandering through the maze of corridors to get inside the hotel we stop to ask for directions to the restaurant.  We check-in at the hostess and then we begin to make our way to the table, when who do I see???  It’s Michel Richard, himself, right there live and in color!!!  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  He’d just finished talking to a customer.  I pause stop and then continue walking.  I somehow muster up an ounce of courage and turn around and intercept Michel as he’s heading toward the kitchen.

Me: “Chef!  Good to see you” (I learned that expression from Gordon Ramsay - he always says it even when it’s the first time meeting someone)
Michel: “How are you, how is everything?”
Me: “Great to finally meet you!  I watched you on Baking with Julia in 1995”
Michel: ”Me? No I wasn’t alive in 1995”
Me: “What?? No, it was me who wasn’t alive in 1995!” as he starts to walk away

After that very brief interchange he headed off to the kitchen.  He obviously wasn’t too interested in talking to me.  In hindsight I’m going through all the things I could have talked to him about:  How I’ve been to his flagship restaurant - Citronelle or ask about his daughter - the one who didn’t like oeufs (french for eggs) as we learned on one of his episodes with Julia.  It all happened so quickly it was like a blur, but I was absolutely delighted meeting him in person.  Frankly I’m very surprised he was at the restaurant.  I would have thought that he would have been down in Georgetown at Citronelle.  I can only hypothesize that the commute is easier to Tysons than to DC. This was not how I had originally planned on writing out this post,but running into Michel really threw me for a loop.  But the real question: how was the food??  Check back tomorrow to find out in Michel - the Past or Present Maestro? - Part II!