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FOOD & DRINK
Sugar, Spice, Style: 2941's Anthony Chavez
May 14, 2009
IF THE THOUGHT of edible art sends you into a culinary tizzy, then escape to Fairfax's 2941 Restaurant. From the artsy decor to the pleasingly plated dishes, 2941 is an oasis for would-be lovers trying to impress and high-end foodies alike.
Visit around the holidays, when pastry chef Anthony Chavez sprinkles a touch more beauty in the dining area with edible showpieces so gorgeous the thought of breaking off a piece almost doesn't even cross your mind.
» EXPRESS: How'd you get into pastry?
» CHAVEZ: It wasn't until half way through culinary school that I started to get into pastry. I was on my internship and the people in the bakery left, so they asked if I could help out. That's when I started baking bread and making simple desserts.
» EXPRESS: How'd you start making edible showpieces?
» CHAVEZ: There are some classes but it's really up to you to find the time. Most of the time your day is filled with so much production that you don't have time for the sugar and the chocolate work. It's really like an extracurricular activity. When I started working in Chicago, I would tell the chef I wanted to learn and she would show me, but I started practicing on my days off and after work.
» EXPRESS: Are the sculptures as good as the pastries you serve?
» CHAVEZ: The chocolate we use for the sculptures is the same chocolate we use for the desserts. The only difference would be like eating a giant candy bar. And with the sugar, we do add tartaric acid. It helps make it pliable to make the flowers and the ribbons. But the acid is edible. It's derived from wine production -- the crystals on the wine barrels after the wine is fermented inside, that's tartaric acid.
» EXPRESS: Is there a big "eat the art" party when you're done with a piece?
» CHAVEZ: We try to save it; they do cost a lot of money. Sugar is the hardest to save because all the colors start to blend together, but we melt it down and I give that to my employees to practice.
» EXPRESS: How long does a smaller piece take compared to a larger piece?
» CHAVEZ: Depends. Our Valentine's Day piece took about six hours. Actually, that piece was almost done. I was attaching the last flower and it broke off, so I had to hurry up and make another flower. So, that took an extra hour. But that kind of stuff happens all the time.
» 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Fairfax; 703-270-1500.
Posted By Darona Williams at 12:00 AM on May 14, 2009 Tagged in Dine & Dash , Fairfax County , Food & Drink , Virginia , Weekend Pass
2941 Restaurant | (703) 270-1500 | 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042 | 2941info@2941.com |
