Joshua Johnson of Kai Dishes on Antelope Liver and Working for a Celebrity Chef

By Nikki Buchanan Mon., Jan. 14 2013 at 7:00 AM

Categories: Buchanan, Chef Salad

Continued from page 2

Buchanan

Johnson in the kitchen at Kai

Best food memory: One night during my time at the Four Seasons Jackson Hole, we lost all power due to a storm. This happened right before dinner service, so we had to create a ton of last minute food on the fly with only head lamps to see. We wound up making the best and most fresh cuisine using only a small grill. And we turned it out in true Four Seasons-style.

If your cooking were a genre of music, what would it be?: No specific genre, just so long as it makes you want to close your eyes, bob your head and it takes you to a certain place in time. And, so long as it's the kind of song you want to play time and again.

Your most embarrassing moment in the kitchen: Has to be when I spilled the poaching liquid for the poussin all over my leg right in front of the chef (a two-star Michelin chef no less), and he just laughed at me. I don't know what hurt worse -- the 180-degree water down my leg or my bruised ego.

What really turns you off when you're dining at a restaurant?:
I really hate pretentiousness, dirtiness and weak drinks.

Favorite thing to eat growing up: My dad's red and green chili with homemade flour tortillas.

Favorite thing to eat now: Fresh fish, just about any way I can get it.

What's your guilty pleasure?: Chocolate-covered almonds and Crow's Dairy Butter Pecan Cheesecake.

Enjoy this Chef Salad? Check out Nikki's previous interviews with:
Todd Sicolo of T.Cooks
Josh Riesner of Pig & Pickle
Lester Gonzalez of Cowboy Ciao
M.J. Coe of Federal Pizza
Steven "Chops" Smith of Searsucker
Aaron Chamberlin of St. Francis
Michael Rusconi of Rusconi's American Kitchen
Chrysa Robertson of Rancho Pinot
Lynn Rossetto of The Splendid Table
Cullen Campbell of Crudo
DJ Monti Carlo
Pete DeRuvo of Davanti Enoteca
Chuck Wiley of Cafe ZuZu
Justin Beckett of Beckett's Table
Bryan Dooley of Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue
Silvana Salcido Esparza of Barrio Cafe
Jeff Kraus of Crepe Bar
Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House
James Porter of Petite Maison
Johnny Chu of SoChu House Neo Asian + Martini Bar
Stephen Jones of Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails
Chris Gross of Christopher's Restaurant and Crush Lounge
Chris Curtiss of NoRTH Arcadia
Payton Curry of Brat Haus
Mark Tarbell of Tarbell's
Josh Hebert of Posh
Kevin Binkley of Binkley's Restaurant
Lori Hashimoto of Hana Japanese Eatery
Larry White, Jr. Lo-Lo's Fried Chicken & Waffles