Chefs Who Give Back- Teddy Folkman

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Those who haven’t heard of Chef Teddy Folkman likely soon will. The co-owner and executive chef of Granville Moore’s Gastropub in Washington is expanding his celebrity one Food Network show at a time.  Last year, Folkman topped Bobby Flay in a mussels challenge on the Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” and, now, he is one of 10 finalists on “The Next Food Network Star.” (Premiering Sunday, 9 p.m.)

For Folkman, 33, the opportunity to showcase his Belgian cuisine “fetish” and upscale bar food is a dream come true. Though what excites him most is the opportunity to teach “generation foodie” what being a chef is really like.

“I love teaching and entertaining people,” Folkman said in a telephone interview. “What better place to do it than the Food Network?”

Though Folkman appears to be a natural in front of the camera, it was in front of a group of teenagers where he honed his teaching style.  As a volunteer for the last seven years at D.C. Brainfood, a non-profit youth development group that uses food and cooking to teach at-risk high school students life skills and healthy living, Folkman has helped cultivate what could be the next generation of area chefs.

Originally involved by default when Chef Sam Adkins became ill the day prior to an event, Folkman stepped in with no idea what he was getting into.

“I didn’t know what to do when I got there,” Folkman said. “But, the next thing you know we’re cooking hanger-steaks, having a good time. Seven years later here we are.”

For Folkman and Brainfood, “here we are” is a pretty good place to be.

When the program began 10 years ago, it filled the required community service credit hours for high schools, leading some students to enroll just for that reason. But now, as interest in the program has gained traction the results are evident.

Now armed with a waiting list 100 deep, Brainfood has developed numerous success stories.

“In the beginning it wasn’t something they (teenagers) wanted to do,” Folkman said. “But as the program has grown, we’ve seen more and more success stories. There are several who have gone on to be executive chefs of major hotels and restaurants in the area.”

Folkman’s personal goal for each class has also been Brainfood’s best recruiting tool — to ensure that the students have fun and learn something.

“You’ve got to know your audience.  I don’t have them in there searing foie gras or making a gastrique,” Folkman said. “We stick to the basics — butchering chicken, filleting a salmon, the difference between grilling and searing, knife skills, food safety and sanitation.”

But for Folkman, it’s not just the students who go on to a career in food that are the successes.

“Success here is everywhere,” Folkman said. “As far as I’m concerned, teaching these kids to cook a good, healthy meal for their families is a great success.”

Down the road, Folkman hopes to become a member of Brainfood’s board of directors. But in the meantime, he’s content teaching classes and help Brainfood recruit chef volunteers.  The goal now, Folkman says, is to work towards restaurants giving students internships and real world experience.

In a class Folkman taught last week, he challenged his students to a gourmet hamburger contest. First prize? The winning burger will appear on Folkman’s summer menu at the Capital Lounge.

As far as his own aspirations, Folkman can’t reveal how he fared in the reality show, but whatever the result he plans to maintain his commitment to both Brainfood and Granville Moore.

“I’ve been blessed by the most talented employees and supportive business partners,” Folkman said. “I plan to keep working there as much as I can.”

Asked to describe what his hypothetical cooking show’s concept would be, Folkman laughed.

“Without letting too many secrets out of the bag,” Folkman kidded, “I really believe that the Food Network viewers, or Generation Foodie as I call them, want to be challenged. They’ve taken a few cooking classes, bought nicer equipment than most restaurants, but still have no idea what it’s like to really be a professional chef. Each show I’d challenge them to keep up with me in a real-time cook off. Let’s see if they can manage jumping from one product to another and then back again.”

Catch Teddy Folkman live, Thursday, June 11^th (6:30-9:30 p.m.) when he and other area

chefs team up with Brainfood students and food lovers from around the region at

Brainfood’s 3^rd Annual Grill-Off.  Decautur House on Lafayette Square, 1610 H St., NW,

Washington, D.C. Tickets: $75 Team Entry: $3,000; 100 percent of proceeds benefit DC

Brainfood; http://brain-food.org/brainfood-grill-off-june-11th-2009

- Stephen Ball

Tags: Belgian cuisine, Celebrity chefs, Food Network, Granville Moore Gastropub, Next Food Network Star, Teddy Folkman