Meet the Team
Sameer Deen
President of CityEats / Kickboxing Hopeful
Most memorable restaurant meal: Dinner at the Private Supper Club in London’s Town Hall Hotel to celebrate the launch of the Food Network UK. The chef, Nuno Mendez, who trained at El Bulli, created a fantastic experience. The chef’s technique was unparalleled to anything I had ever tasted. I remember most the frozen squid ink of the calamari course, and the layered textures of the chocolate course.
Last supper request: A plate of oysters and champagne at Aqua Grill.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: Morimoto. He has mad knife skills.
- Follow Sameer on Twitter: @sameer_deen
- Read Sameer’s professional profile
Narisa Wild
VP of Operations & Product / Health Guru / Marathoner / Mom
Most memorable restaurant meal: Most life altering would be a dinner in Whistler, CA, at the Fairmont Chateau. We waited an extra 45 minutes for a table with a view of all the ice sculptures (my husband insisted and I didn't understand why). It was a magical table. :) And dinner: Carpaccio starter and lobster main. Then after several martinis, he wobbled onto one knee to propose. To finish off the evening, a lovely older couple sent us a bottle of Veuve.
Last supper request: Medium-rare steak.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: Raymond Blanc.
- Follow Narisa on Twitter: @mamaandthecity
- Read Narisa’s professional profile
Dria de Botton
VP of Content Strategy / Pop Culture Savant / Ice Cream Aficionado / Exercise Enthusiast
Most memorable restaurant meal: An unforgettable bowl of pasta -- bucatini all' Amatraciana -- on the first night of my first trip to Rome. I was in college and was subsisting more Special K and frozen yogurt that I'd care to admit, so for me, this dinner was a game-changer. The food was delicious, but what sticks with me was just how much everyone in this little restaurant seemed to be enjoying the food. Romans mean business when it comes to pasta, and thanks to that meal, so do I.
Last supper request: My mom's roast chicken, rosemary potatoes and a green salad. Lots of Pinot Noir. Follow that with a fat slice of chocolate cake and I'm in heaven (literally, in this case). I've probably had that meal 100 times and would be happy to have it 100 more.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: Mario Batali. Culinary genius notwithstanding, I have a lot of respect for a guy who seems like he'd be that much fun at a party.
- Follow Dria on Twitter: @driadebotton
- Read Dria’s professional profile
Rick Lamy
VP of Sales / Newfound Fan of Casual Fridays / Golfer
Most memorable restaurant meal: Stuffed banana French toast with strawberries.
Last supper request: A big, juicy burger with blue cheese and grilled onions… And don't forget the half sour pickles on the side. A vanilla soufflé for dessert.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: Barefoot Contessa, since that's who my wife talks about all the time. She is hospitable, knows how to throw great parties and takes a simple approach to developing delicious dishes.
Marven Krug
Director of Product / Office Jokester / Chef de Partie / Doctor of Modern European History / Proud Canadian
Most memorable restaurant meal: I will never forget a meal I had at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon inside the Four Seasons Hotel here in New York City. My Significant Other and I each had the tasting menu with wine pairings. It cost an arm and a leg and was worth every penny. There was a succession of tiny plates of glorious deliciousness, none of which I could have made at home in a million years. So this is why people spend so much on a meal, I realized!
Last supper request: I want a medium-rare, grass-fed beef, rib-eye steak grilled Ruth's Chris-style on extremely high heat with butter, a baked potato with sour cream and chives, corn on the cob with butter and sea salt and thickly sliced, fresh ripe beefsteak tomatoes. A bottle of nice Willamette Valley pinot noir on the side, please. For dessert a slice of lemon meringue pie from the (unfortunately defunct) famous Miami Beach deli Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: My first (platonic) chef crush was Graham Kerr of The Galloping Gourmet. I was about eight years old. That suave New Zealander was sort of the Austin Powers of his day. He took a pinch of Swinging London, added a dash of (tipsy) Dean Martin, a dollop of Hugh Hefner, and a tablespoon of Julia Child, mixed the whole thing with wild travel adventures worthy of Anthony Bourdain, and made this particular eight year-old think that nothing could be cooler than being a famous globe-trotting cook.
- Follow Marven on Twitter: @MarvenEats
- Read Marven’s professional profile
Andrew Ford
Manager, Web Development / Cheese Lover / World Authority on Beatles History
Most memorable restaurant meal: The first time I had really good Chinese near my old house in England. Crispy roasted duck and moo shu pancakes. Made me realize there was more to food than just meat and potatoes.
Last supper request: Spaghetti bolognaise.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: Claire Robinson. Even I can follow recipes with only 5 things in them!
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewTheLimey
James Ford
Manager, Web Development / Gadget Lover / Soccer Fanatic
Most memorable restaurant meal: The first time I had sushi, years ago, in Tampa, FL. It was so, so different from what I was expecting, like a revelation. It’s my most common food craving now.
Last supper request: Thai curry mussels. With bacon.
Chef crush, platonic or otherwise: Morimoto. I love his style of Japanese food, plus he stars in the most interesting episodes of Iron Chef America.
- Follow James on Twitter: @JamesRealTweets
Writing, Photography, and Video
Now, Meet the Writers, Photographers, and Video Producers at CityEats
