This guy is one of my fave chefs in D-town and I've known him for years. Just wanted to remind you guys to check him out on Top Chef starting Dec. 1

​I was worried when I first arrived at Loft 610. Chef Tre Wilcox was running late for our interview, and when he arrived he was distracted, looking toward the open kitchen with each question, which he would think about carefully before answering. I read it at first as disinterest or perhaps even annoyance. But once he relaxed and warmed up, it was clear neither was the case. I may never know where it was coming from. But I am relieved to say it quickly dissolved the more we got into talking about two of his favorite topics: food and his future working in it.

Here's the down and dirty. Wilcox worked in fast food at 17 and then landed a position at Eatzi's, (where he worked his way up to corporate trainer). He participated in Brinker's rigorous training, worked at Toscana restaurant and got a gig at Abacus (going from grill cook to sous chef to chef de cuisine), before attending The Culinary Institute of America in Greystone, California. He won a number of awards locally and nationally and was nominated as the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef for two consecutive years. He attended Alain Ducasse's training center in Paris, appeared on Top Chef (Season 3) and on Iron Chef America. He also freelanced as a private chef (cooking for Russell Simmons, Jerry Stackhouse and the like), conducted in-home dinners and lead cooking classes for HEB. He was (and is) the face of Chantal cookware, and is now executive chef at Loft 610.

Wilcox believes that beauty and simplicity are the key to great food and great restaurants, especially now. "If a place is too fancy, it's not going to be busy," he says. "You have to offer things that diners don't want to make or can't make at home, but really delicious. Gastronomy is not something that has taken off here. The recession has caused that. You can't have blue fin and foie gras. Nowadays eating out is a luxury so you want to make diners feel like they are winning."

That explains why he's not a big fan of being bizarre when it comes to food just for the sake of being bizarre. "I play with a lot of things," Wilcox says. "But I don't call them out and make diners nervous." Not that he has any problem with creativity. "If you're doing it to maximize the product. Then, OK. When it's just bastardized, it's just the chef getting his rocks off. I hate that shit." Wilcox himself creates foams and gels. "I use cilantro to make a gel. I blanche it and maximize it. It's all about discipline."

Wilcox is all too familiar with the world of chefs and their egos. He was on Top Chef after all. But just like the "bastardization of food," he has no patience with the famous-for-being-famous shtick that is all too common even in the cooking world these days. "I'd rather be known for my cooking," he says. For talented chefs, though, appearances on these shows "are very helpful with exposure if [the chefs] don't make asses of themselves."

He's also not a fan of some of the other cooking reality shows like Hell's Kitchen and Chopped. "Top Chef is much classier, and it does make you a better chef," he says. "It's like camp, sitting around with nothing else to do but talk about food. You can take it all in and sift through it like your looking for that black diamond. I was the quiet guy. I didn't talk a lot. When you go into a situation that you don't know anything about, you should keep your mouth shut. Other [shows] just make a mockery."

Apropos of nothing, Wilcox says, "I love this song" in the middle of the conversation. "Me too," my companion says. I was barely aware there even was music playing and ask what song it is. "In the Waiting Line," Wilcox and my companion both answer at the same time. "From the Garden State soundtrack," she continues. Wilcox grins and laughs and nods approvingly. He is officially relaxed now. He has a big, strange laugh and from that moment forward he lets it slip into our discussion.

Cooking is not the only thing that Wilcox is incredibly disciplined about. He is also a maniac about being in shape. And he is in incredible shape. "I was very heavy before," he says. Seven years ago, I was 280 pounds. A plump kind of guy. I'd fluff the chef coat to hide it." One day, he was just over it. "It was just a realization." He not only recognized the gain, he also recognized exactly where it came from.

"You get married. You pick up happy weight. You get comfortable. I was a chef with a bad diet. You let it creep up on you," Wilcox says. When he started losing weight he had a contest at the restaurant with other employees in the same predicament. "November 1 everyone put in $100. I lost 12 pounds in one month, took the pot, and never stopped. Now it's an addiction."

When you meet Wilcox, you quickly see that addictive thread that runs through everything he does. He's addicted to discipline and getting things done. He even has what he calls his seven-year-plan. "It started when I was 33." At 34 now, he sees himself moving on from Loft 610 and opening a restaurant called Marquee in late February or early March 2011 in Highland Park Village. After that, he plans to open a small 40- to 70-seat restaurant some time down the line.

After that, well, "I want to do TV. Not reality. My own kind of show. I love teaching and I'm not afraid of the camera." People are pitching him shows all the time, he says, but he wants to "take some of the shows that people are pitching to me and come up with my own concept. That's what life is all about. I want to do something really neat and fun and unique." As for now though, he says, he's just "taking it all in."

Read the rest of the article here http://blogs.dallasobserv...when_i.php

Dallas has ANOTHER chef on the All Stars show, a sista named Tiffany Derry.

Tiffany Derry

Contestant

Trey is so cute to me. He could have won his season - seems he was really good with grilling meats and preparing seafood dishes which are a must on that show. If you can't cook steak or get creative with shellfish you don't even need to compete. I only saw a couple of eps with Tiffany so I'm not sure how good a chef she actually was.

DesireeNevermind said:

Trey is so cute to me. He could have won his season - seems he was really good with grilling meats and preparing seafood dishes which are a must on that show. If you can't cook steak or get creative with shellfish you don't even need to compete. I only saw a couple of eps with Tiffany so I'm not sure how good a chef she actually was.

Didn't Tre come in second place? He's really cool peeps, with the loudest donkey laugh you ever heard.

He's doing really well

I've heard great things about Tiffany. But Dallas, and Texas in general, is about that beef. I tend to frequent steakhouses that serve excellent seafood. So, I wouldn't necessarily go to a seafood restaurant, like hers. I keep saying I'ma try her out but haven't made it yet. Me and my girls go to restaurants like it's the club. We gots to eat!

Thanks for posting, girl!

I've been a fan of Tre's since he was at Abacus (before he was on Top Chef the first time around, when he got 2nd place). I loved Abacus when he was there. Haven't been overly impressed with Loft 610 and the rumor is that they will be changing owners at the end of the year.

I even took a cooking class with Tre once when he was doing them at Central Market. He taught me the whole secret about how to cut an avocado without it turning black afterwards. It's a secret type of knife...ceramic.

Anyways...I digress.... HE'S A GREAT CHEF!

CallMeCarrie said:

Thanks for posting, girl!

I've been a fan of Tre's since he was at Abacus (before he was on Top Chef the first time around, when he got 2nd place). I loved Abacus when he was there. Haven't been overly impressed with Loft 610 and the rumor is that they will be changing owners at the end of the year.

I even took a cooking class with Tre once when he was doing them at Central Market. He taught me the whole secret about how to cut an avocado without it turning black afterwards. It's a secret type of knife...ceramic.

Anyways...I digress.... HE'S A GREAT CHEF!

"No wonder"

CallMeCarrie said:

Thanks for posting, girl!

I've been a fan of Tre's since he was at Abacus (before he was on Top Chef the first time around, when he got 2nd place). I loved Abacus when he was there. Haven't been overly impressed with Loft 610 and the rumor is that they will be changing owners at the end of the year.

I even took a cooking class with Tre once when he was doing them at Central Market. He taught me the whole secret about how to cut an avocado without it turning black afterwards. It's a secret type of knife...ceramic.

Anyways...I digress.... HE'S A GREAT CHEF!

Dallas in da house! I go to Abacus mostly cuz I'm friends with the manager Stuart and the owner Kent, Tre's mentor. Their menu is too shi-shi-poo-poo for me and the food hasn't been the same since Tre left. However, Jaspers, which Kent also owns, is STILL my fave restaurant in Dallas. I'm not a fan of Loft 610 either.

On another note, I was at Bailey's on Saturday and ran into Kent at the bar. We shut that place down dancing, drinking and talking til 2 am. I mentioned that Tre was gonna be on Top Chef again and Kent gave me the straight up gas face like Tre did him dirty or some shit. I was shocked.

[Edited 12/1/10 11:12am]

Im looking forward to the new season of TCAS.

It's not just about grilling and seafood though....got season the soups just right, and be able to make weird ingredient desserts as well

Cool. I'll be sure to check them out.

I don't know if ya'll remember when Kent, his brother, and Tre as the sous chef defeated Bobby Flay on Iron Chef. Tre was in the background hustlin'! They did the fool on that ep.

[Edited 12/1/10 11:25am]

I'm watching that vid and my mouf is literally waterin!!!

DesireeNevermind said:

Trey is so cute to me. He could have won his season - seems he was really good with grilling meats and preparing seafood dishes which are a must on that show. If you can't cook steak or get creative with shellfish you don't even need to compete. I only saw a couple of eps with Tiffany so I'm not sure how good a chef she actually was.

She was excellent on Top Chefs DC, and should have won in my estimation. She won a couple of the challenges. I really liked her.

Shyra said:

DesireeNevermind said:

Trey is so cute to me. He could have won his season - seems he was really good with grilling meats and preparing seafood dishes which are a must on that show. If you can't cook steak or get creative with shellfish you don't even need to compete. I only saw a couple of eps with Tiffany so I'm not sure how good a chef she actually was.

She was excellent on Top Chefs DC, and should have won in my estimation. She won a couple of the challenges. I really liked her.

I've seen a lot of folks say that online.

SCNDLS said:

CallMeCarrie said:

Thanks for posting, girl!

I've been a fan of Tre's since he was at Abacus (before he was on Top Chef the first time around, when he got 2nd place). I loved Abacus when he was there. Haven't been overly impressed with Loft 610 and the rumor is that they will be changing owners at the end of the year.

I even took a cooking class with Tre once when he was doing them at Central Market. He taught me the whole secret about how to cut an avocado without it turning black afterwards. It's a secret type of knife...ceramic.

Anyways...I digress.... HE'S A GREAT CHEF!

Dallas in da house! I go to Abacus mostly cuz I'm friends with the manager Stuart and the owner Kent, Tre's mentor. Their menu is too shi-shi-poo-poo for me and the food hasn't been the same since Tre left. However, Jaspers, which Kent also owns, is STILL my fave restaurant in Dallas. I'm not a fan of Loft 610 either.

On another note, I was at Bailey's on Saturday and ran into Kent at the bar. We shut that place down dancing, drinking and talking til 2 am. I mentioned that Tre was gonna be on Top Chef again and Kent gave me the straight up gas face like Tre did him dirty or some shit. I was shocked.

[Edited 12/1/10 11:12am]

Gas face....hehehe!

I like Jaspers, too. It's just a bit of a drive! I agree with you about Abacus without Tre, but the lobster shooters are still freakin fantastic!

Girl - as much as we both eat out, I wouldn't be surprised if we ran into each other! I'll be looking for ya!

CallMeCarrie said:

SCNDLS said:

Dallas in da house! I go to Abacus mostly cuz I'm friends with the manager Stuart and the owner Kent, Tre's mentor. Their menu is too shi-shi-poo-poo for me and the food hasn't been the same since Tre left. However, Jaspers, which Kent also owns, is STILL my fave restaurant in Dallas. I'm not a fan of Loft 610 either.

On another note, I was at Bailey's on Saturday and ran into Kent at the bar. We shut that place down dancing, drinking and talking til 2 am. I mentioned that Tre was gonna be on Top Chef again and Kent gave me the straight up gas face like Tre did him dirty or some shit. I was shocked.

[Edited 12/1/10 11:12am]

Gas face....hehehe!

I like Jaspers, too. It's just a bit of a drive! I agree with you about Abacus without Tre, but the lobster shooters are still freakin fantastic!

Girl - as much as we both eat out, I wouldn't be surprised if we ran into each other! I'll be looking for ya!

Probably!

I live in Allen and it's STILL a drive but I try to go regularly. That's my SPOT! My fave drink is the Big Daddy.

I could sit back and watch cooking reality shows all day.

OMG, I soooooo wanted him to win his season. I was mad when he got kicked off. I watch that show and haven't a clue what it would taste like or what half the damn ingredients are, but when it's good food, you can see it. And his food looked good.

Plus he all fine an' shit

Sweet! I've been looking forward to this season since the last regular Top Chef season ended. That last season was my least favorite so far, but this TCAS has a GREAT selection of chefs. I'm excited.

It's ON, ya'll!

Go on, baby, give 'em the donkey laugh!

I DVR'd it...was really sleepy by 9pm last night.

SCNDLS said:

Go on, baby, give 'em the donkey laugh!

He sho is good looking, but that DOOFUS laugh!

Shyra said:

SCNDLS said:

Go on, baby, give 'em the donkey laugh!

He sho is good looking, but that DOOFUS laugh!

Girl, I remember going into the restaurant one night and he sat with us for awhile. He's really sweet and good-natured so he laughs a LOT. When I heard that donkey pipe up, I really thought he was playing.

Then I started laughing, and he laughed harder (not knowing I was laughing at HIS ass), and we went back and forth for awhile til I almost choked on my cocktail. That laugh just gets louder and donkier as he goes along. But he's good peeps.

[Edited 12/2/10 14:33pm]

Shyra said:

SCNDLS said:

Go on, baby, give 'em the donkey laugh!

He sho is good looking, but that DOOFUS laugh!

i'd ride him as long as he didn't laugh.

DesireeNevermind said:

Shyra said:

He sho is good looking, but that DOOFUS laugh!

i'd ride him as long as he didn't laugh.

Chile, he'd let loose wit that laugh and I'd be

Is it me or do chefs NEVER wash their hands????

Oh, and there's ANOTHER Dallas-area chef on the show.

Casey Thompson, Season 3

Contestant

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

I JUST started watching this show online out of curiosity, because we talk about food all the time on the org: Bruh-mann is clearly a bad ass

Ok, who saw Tre take off his shirt and reveal all that Adonis meat! He said he sleeps in the nude.

I have a new crush....plus he's got tats!!! sexy beast.

Jennifer was a little bisch! She knows those eggs were bland. They fuckin' looked bland. Plus she had to run her mouth to the judges and get kicked off on only the second episode. Talk about somebody not really wanting to be there.