Marcel Vigneron, that guy from 'Top Chef,' opens his first restaurant on Melrose - Los Angeles Times
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Marcel Vigneron, that guy from ‘Top Chef,’ opens his first restaurant on Melrose

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Fans of the show “Top Chef” probably remember Marcel Vigneron, the runner-up from Season 2 of the show. He was the guy with good hair and a penchant for molecular gastronomy. Vigneron — who has worked for Jose Andres, has made many television appearances since “Top Chef” (SyFy gave him a show called “Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen”) and even spent a little time cooking on a food truck — is finally opening a restaurant of his own.

Wolf, Vigneron’s first restaurant, opens Wednesday night on Melrose Avenue, right next to Matrix Theater (the location was once home to Govind Armstrong’s restaurant Table 8). The concept is “no waste cooking,” and the goal is to use every part of an ingredient.

The opening menu includes burnt carrots with coconut, passion fruit, macadamia, lime and sorrel; mushroom risotto with pine nuts and wood sorrel; white miso black cod with watermelon radishes, bean sprouts, dashi and wasabi greens; Thai shrimp dumplings with pork belly, tom yum, mango, avocado, jicama and lemon grass oil; and Vadouvan lamb rack with romanesco, labneh, artichoke and olives.

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And yes, there are Brussels sprouts — here served with fish caramel and Tokyo turnips.

For dessert, look for Chartreuse souffle with blood orange sorbet and roasted banana with “campfire” whip,” peanut tuile and cacao.

As for the restaurant’s name, it’s a nod to the chef’s mother’s maiden name.

Wolf is open from 6 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

7661 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles

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