SEBASTIAN — Damien Gilliams, owner of Sebastian’s No Name Sports Bar, is “packing the house” every Monday evening, when he hosts a cooking contest in conjunction with the appearance of his brother, Leslie Gilliams, as a contestant on the hit Fox network show, Master Chef. (Leslie was still going strong at Week 14, aired Aug. 25).
Leslie’s extensive experience in the kitchen is due in part to cooking for his seven children and his wife, film and television producer Paula Hart, in their Malibu, CA, home. A self-proclaimed “proud stay-at-home dad,” Leslie says it isn’t always easy finding time to cook, especially with the “house, pool, gardens, cars, septic tank and dozens of trees that need trimming. But my kids have traveled a lot and have sophisticated palates. So I do stuff that kids like, but they aren’t just hot dogs.”
To satisfy these young gourmets-in-training, on any given day he might stir up something Italian, German, French, Thai, Chinese or Mexican.
His artistry in the kitchen prompted his wife Paula to comment, as they were watching MasterChef, “You could do that!”
Leslie saw the possibility as well. He auditioned, made it past the scrutiny of often terrifying Master Chef himself, Gordon Ramsey, and became one of 21 chef hopefuls chosen to compete on the show’s 2014 season.
As the high-stress competition continues, Leslie has been able to “stand the heat,” and remain in the kitchen. He says, “No, Chef Ramsay never made me cry. He reminds me of me. There is a right way and a wrong way to do something. I don’t mind constructive criticism.”
This pragmatic attitude was formed early on. Leslie, Damien and their nine siblings shared a tough childhood in the Bronx. Their mother was a nun before she married and, when she fell on hard times, five of her children, including Damien, 6, and Leslie, 8, were taken to the Catholic Charities Orphanage, where they remained for 10 years. Their childhood experiences made them tough and resilient, with a deep desire and respect for a solid family life.
While fans follow the culinary drama of “Master Chef,” in Sebastian Damien is presiding over the No Name Sports Bar’s weekly “tribute” cooking competition.
“I wanted to recognize my brother, and do something different for the bar,” he says.
Each Monday, three contestants are chosen, at random. Anyone can participate. A $5 entry fee helps offset the ingredients, seasonings and sides provided by the No Name bar.
In a corner of the room, a long cafeteria table is set up, with three identical George Foreman grills. The contestants do not know what they will be preparing until 5 minutes before the 6:30 p.m. official start of cooking. The entrée will be either chicken, pork, beef or fish, and sides picked to help the contestants create a dish with the chosen meat – applesauce, avocado, various cheeses, onions, mushrooms, peppers, Panko, lettuce, tomatoes among them. The contestants have 30 minutes to prepare and plate their dish.
When each plated dish is ready, it is passed around so the gathered audience can see – but not taste – the creations. Then the plates are taken to the judges’ booth where they will be judged in three categories: presentation, creativity and taste, using a scale of 1 (no chance) to 5 (yes!).
The judges and alternates are: Joe and Julie Scozzari, Toni and Kenny Falk and Joe Acanfora.
When the scores are tabulated, Damien says, the judges may still choose to debate the category outcomes and, finally, they’ll vote.
The winner each week receives a $25 bar tab and will compete in the finals. The other two contestants, Damien adds, are allowed to try again on another week. When the preliminary contests are over, the winners’ names will be placed “in a hat” and three will be drawn for the semi-finals.
After the final cut, the final (probably) five will have a cook-off for the grand prize – a 46-inch, high-def flat screen TV. Shortly after that, says Damien, when the season’s final Master Chef show has aired, Leslie will visit for a mano-a-mano cook-off with the Grand Prize winner.
Damien says everyone is welcome to stop by Monday nights. “We have a blast!”