Spend enough clip string up out with chef and you ’ll learn a twain of truisms : first , the job is far more daunting and time take in than it looks , so any time off to party is not taken for granted . Second , for many of them , medicine is near as important as solid food .
The latter ’s peculiarly true for Bruce Kalman , the critically acclaimed , award - win chef behind Union in Pasadena and Knead in Grand Central Market , and Duff Goldman , who is best know as TV ’s Ace of Cakes and the genius behind Charm City Cakes . Both are also partners - in - rock in the punnily namedgrunge - and - more covering fire circle Foie Grock , which is why when an opportunity to drop some of their treasured time off with them doing karaoke fell into my lick , I took it .
After all , I also play in a cover band– and for the other long time of my return to LA after college , I hosted karaoke at the now - defunct streak Lava Lounge . But not all karaoke ’s created adequate . And here ’s how our chef ’s dark out went down :
Jason Hoffman/Thrillist
The Den on Sunset is one of those cake , like many on the comic strip , that seems like a beacon for LA newbies : its underground entryway yield it a lair - same feeling , but its propinquity to fancy fleck like the Chateau means that outpouring from red carpet reject is inevitable .
Though I ’ve never meet him , it ’s not severe to find Goldman : his stylemark bald-pated nous glistens with effort as he blot out himself in the back corner of the bar , anxiously poring over the massive songlist and taking notes on a piffling notepad while his girlfriend looks over his shoulder . He ’s clearly skittish about this , which surprises me since he ’s both a TV personality and seemingly gregarious . His hired man - written notes have both classic karaoke staples ( " All Star " ) and more out - there options ( " Teenage Dirtbag " ) .
" It ’s my first time doing karaoke since I was , like , 13 years older , " Goldman tells me . I ’m shocked .
Kalman walks in from the back room , joined by a new cook who exercise with him . " Man , I ’m excited to get out , " he tells me as we bro - hug . " I think I should remove the bar and do ' staircase to Heaven . ' " We laugh and I state him I used to dread that song when I host karaoke .
" Everyone forget about the 3 - minute guitar solo , " I say . " You get to it and it ’s a clump of people see around waiting for something to happen . "
Goldman calculate concerned that he may make the same mistake , even though his lean has no glaring karaoke disasters . We discuss how " Piano Man , " though it ’s a no - question classic , move on for about four instant too long ; " Bohemian Rhapsody " only works in a declamatory group – so no one can hear that you ca n’t strike the high notes .
" Piano Man , " though it ’s a no - inquiry classic , break down on for about four minute of arc too long ; " Bohemian Rhapsody " only ferment in a orotund group – so no one can get word that you ca n’t come to the in high spirits bill .
Kalman ’s clearly in the zona as we walk up to the front of the prevention , where karaoke ’s already started . A broad smiling is on his face as he goes and has a discussion with the KJ , sporting frosted bakshis , a permagrin , and a sleeper that doubles as a washboard , which he toy generously as a span of women sing " girl Just need to Have Fun . "
We smalltalk for a bit ; Goldman tells me that the band arrive together after he and Kalman met at a Fourth of July company . " I was frightened to pack , " he tells me , but Kalman got him out of his racing shell .
finally , the jockstrap calls Kalman ’s name . He gravel up and a song that Foie Grock play , the Foo Fighters ' classic , " Everlong , " kicks in . Kalman crushes it , his vocals mime Dave Grohl ’s howling , putting as much passion into it as he does into every plate of alimentary paste at Knead . He walks back to us .
" So … what are you going to peach , " he asks Goldman .
" Do n’t pressure me , man ! "
I find out more : Goldman used to play bass in an Elvis cover ring , doing hot - pole rallying as pinup young lady danced on the sides ; it ’s not hard to picture him as a retro - rodder , rocking into an just bass voice for guys who have the whole Reverend Horton Heat catalogue . He hates – HATES – when someone calls him the Cake Boss . " I detest that guy rope , " he says , with no reservations . " The next time it materialize on a morning show , I ’m just going to walk off . "
It ’s not a opinion of bitterness , though , it ’s possess who he is . And when the KJ eventually does call his name , there ’s a seeable change in Goldman , and it becomes clear that going out with him is n’t just about having a few drinks or doing karaoke , it ’s the same affair that happens with anyone who ’s a public bod : as he steps up to the mic , he gets recognized , and all of a sudden the press is actually on . Girls need mental picture with him first ; the KJ asks me to shoot one as well .
Goldman ’s song – the only one he ’ll end up tattle the whole night – comes on , and it ’s wholly unexpected : Simon and Garfunkel ’s " Mrs. Robinson . " He lights up as he sings it , nailing the lyrics without looking at the screen . He ’s not just a karaoke singer , though , he ’s a renown , and – in as egoless a way as is possible – he get it on it , looking at cameras as they flash while he babble through the song . He finish , and walks back to us , wassail in deal .
" That was great , " I say .
" Thanks , mankind . But I ’m really just a bassist . "
afterward in the night , while I ’m doing " The Humpty Dance , " Goldman ghosts out ; he has a shoot he has to get to early the next Clarence Day , and it ’s clear that karaoke is not as much his thing as I thought it would be . But Kalman hangs on , potent , singing Weezer and Alice in Chains songs , buying rounds , and schmoozing with friend who keep stopping by to say hi . My poulet - scratch notes get less readable as the night go on , but the last one says something like this :
" 12:35am : Kalman : Ate at [ not legible ] molecular gastronomy in drinkable – " ' it ’s good if you’re able to [ not legible ] . ' "
clear , for all of us it was a successful chef ’s night out .
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