February Is For Lovers: Brian Laird of the Upcoming Sarto's on Darrel Truett of Barolo Grill

For the rest of the month, we continue to spread a different kind of love: the love for our local restaurants and chefs. Early February, restaurant critic Stacey Brugeman of 5280 Magazine launched the month-long pay-it-forward love series with praises for chef Mary Nguyen and her new café, Olive & Finch. Nguyen passed along some love to Mark Dym of Marco's Coal Fired Pizza who praised chef Troy Guard's TAGm who, in turn, shared his love for chef Jeff Osaka of Twelve. Osaka shared his love for Beast + Bottle, Paul Reilly talked up Bob Blair of Fuel Cafe who wrote a heartfelt note about Potager's Teri Rippeto. The chef and owner of the 17 year old Cap Hill restaurant continued the series with praises for Rob and Karin Lawler of the Truffle Cheese Shop and the Truffle Table who have then expressed gratitude for the friendship and generosity of chef Brian Laird. Now the chef of the upcoming Sarto's talks about his former sous chef, Darrell Truett of Barolo Grill.

As difficult as I find it to narrow down one chef or restaurant person, because I love you all and respect what you all do, I also found it to be a no-brainer to pick Darrel Truett who was my sous chef for years and not only carries on the high standards, but continues to raise the bar as the chef at Barolo Grill.

I can go on for hours about Darrel and his wonderful cuisine, but I wanted to let those out there who don't already know who Darrel is. His loyalty, respectfulness, honesty, and kindness are nothing that I have ever seen in anyone. Not only does this shine consistently in his nature to everyone around him, it really shines in his food and in the way his kitchen staff interacts.

We all know the difficulties of killing it day in and day out. Ever-changing menus, managing people and personalities, food and labor costs, and more. The difficulty of stepping in to fill another chef's shoes is very tough. Not only am I proud to see how Darrel has done that, but how he continues to carry that to a higher and higher level. That all speaks immensely of his character.

I have been fortunate enough to have met and been around his family, wife, and daughter and can truly understand why Darrel is who he is. He is and always will be a friend and colleague and someone I respect and am proud to know. Now for any other dirt on Darrel and how crazy he travels in Italia, hit me up. Peace!

Every day, the recipient of the praises will have a chance to pass the love around. Come back tomorrow to hear what chef Truett is obsessing over this month.

· February Love: Restaurant Critic Stacey Brugeman on Olive & Finch [EDen]
· Chef Mary Nguyen on Marco's Coal Fired Pizza [EDen]
· February Is For Lovers: Chef Mark Dym on TAG [EDen]
· Chef Troy Guard on Twelve Restaurant and Jeff Osaka [EDen]
· February Is For Lovers: Chef Jeff Osaka on Beast +Bottle [EDen]
· Paul Reilly of Beast + Bottle on Fuel Cafe's Bob Blair [EDen]
· Bob Blair of Fuel Cafe on Potager's Chef and Owner Teri Rippeto [EDen]
· Potager's Teri Rippeto on Rob and Karin Lawler of the Truffle [EDen]
· Karin Lawler of the Truffle Table on Brian Laird of Sarto's [EDen]