With his disarming wit, unpretentious warmth, and creative uses for
kumquats, Spenger’s executive chef, Devon Boisen, has been netting a
reputation as the East Bay’s go-to guy for that rare treat: the themed
meal narrated, course by course, with ready-for-prime-time riffs about
ingredients, cooking techniques, and the wild adventure that eating can
be. One of his favorite things in the world, he declares, “is being
able to get the first fish of any season and call dibs on it. Standing
over a beastly halibut with the biggest, sharpest knife and claiming
the first steak just underneath the collar is sweet visceral heaven.”
Emceeing the restaurant’s annual Crabby Chef competition, he elicits
roars. In accordance with the current passion for oxidation, Boisen has
been staging monthly “One Fermented Evening” dinners with wine and beer
pairings; the menus for such repasts included fusions such as
grilled-cheese-and-tomato soup, “bite-sized” cioppino, duck confit,
chocolate manicotti with kumquat flambé, and smoked prawns with
Parma-ham cracklings. He joshed: “We’ve done what you’re not supposed
to do with Parma ham, and that’s cook it.”
TRENDING:
.Best Showman Chef
Executive Chef Devon Boisen