WWFB: “Mouth, Please Stop Talking!” Edition
The scene: DanDan, Milwaukee’s best and buzziest dim sum restaurant — already a tough table to get, but even moreso lately because Chef Dan Jacobs (one half of the DanDan chef duo) was a finalist and fan favorite on Season 21 of Top Chef. He makes our city so proud!
My sister-in-law and friends from Madison do an annual girls’ weekend in Milwaukee. This year I crashed dinner and reserved us a table at DanDan. The Madison crew was super psyched to dine here — they’d been following the entire season of Top Chef as it highlights Wisconsin’s culinary riches. They loooooove Chef Dan!
As we waited for our cocktails to arrive, we spied Chef Dan at a nearby table speaking with a guest. With everyone at my table beaming laser eyes his way, he couldn’t help but notice our insane grins. I waved him over.
I wanted to impress upon Chef Dan how excited my friends were to meet him. I wanted to tip my hat to my friends for being such genuine fans who made a special trip to dine here. I wanted to convey how much I’ve enjoyed my meals at DanDan over the years.
I wanted to be so gracious.
Here is what I ended up saying:
Chef Dan! [gesturing at my friends] You have a table full of big fans here! They’ve been following you on Top Chef and have been rooting for you all season. And I’m not a fan per se…I mean, I’m not not a fan, but I haven’t been watching because I don’t have cable. But, I mean…I love your restaurant. You do great work.
I’m available 7 days a week to officiate weddings, deliver keynote addresses, or give toasts at your life’s most meaningful events, wherever eloquence is required.
VERDICT: 0/10 for my super awkward introduction to Chef Dan. 11/10 for the food and drink at DanDan. Next time I go I promise not to talk.