Profile: Scooter Kanfer for White House Chef

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Born and raised Stacey Michelle Kanfer in Queens, NY, Scooter Kanfer-Cartmill is a Los Angeles-based chef. Her first major Food experience occured when she got ahold of James Beard’s Beard on Bread: she was so inspired that she baked her way through it cover-to-cover. Her mentors include Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger at City (discussed at length in Super Chef) and Wolfgang Puck at Spago Hollywood, Chinois on Main, and Granita (also all in Super Chef). While having served as private chef to the members of the Rothschild family and also Hollywood star Sandra Bernhard, Scooter rose to fame first at the Hollywood Hills Cafe, followed by House and most recently at Naya. Currently, Scooter is consulting on a new restaurant called The Waffle with producer Gavin Polone with dishes like Macaroni & Cheese, Cowboys & Angels, and Ribeye with Pommes Souffles and emporer's butter). Just this month, Patric Kuh (author of Last Day s of Haute Cuisine) wrote in Los Angeles Magazine, "Kanfer’s food marks the return to a true Arcadian America." What would Scooter do if she got the nod from the White House? First, she would give sincere thanks for the opportunity to serve the President and First Lady with confidence and determination because "for me, it is a very high honor to be nominated to such an important position." Then, "I would pack my bags and be ready in 48 hours." What would she serve for a quiet dinner? Knife and Fork Salad, followed by Flatiron steak with lobster mashed potatoes, lemon parsley butter, and farmers' market vegetables, and then Chocolate peanut butter terrine with sugared peanuts and fresh berries. And for a State Dinner? Lobster Consomme with Maine lobster, fingerling potatoes and caviar relish, followed by a Pistachio-crusted Bellwether Farm Lamb with a rutabega rosti and carrot marjoram sauce, a Ragout of McGrafth Family Farm spring vegetables and a warm salad of white asparagus, baby beets, haricots vert, fava beans and a mustard vinaigrette, the Pecan and black pepper crepes with roasted peaches, and Blackberries and cajeta caramel ice cream. Outside the kitchen, Scooter likes to spend time with her family. Favorite snack? A perfectly ripe tomatoe or watermelon with a sprinkle of vanilla salt. Alternative career? "Run a center for inner-city children in New York City, teaching them the Arts." Other online bios: Los Angeles Magazine Los Angeles Times Star Chefs Daily Candy Previous articles: Profile: Cat Cora for White House Chef Fortune Smiles on superchefblog's White House Chef Poll Profile: Diane Forley for White House Chef Cat Cora Wins on Iron Chef America Anita Lo Defeats Mario Batali on Iron Chef America Atlantic Monthly: White House Chefs Cat Cora, Anita Lo: Sexing Up Iron Chef America Joe Guzzardi: If Not Governor, White House Chef Reminder 1: Vote for White House Woman Chef Vote For White House Woman Chef Superchefblog: Catalyst for White House Woman Chef? --> back to superchefblog