Bostonist Podcast: Chef Louie and his Night

Chef Louie Night
Joshua Tree, 1316 Comm. Ave., Brighton
7:00 p.m., $20

Louis DiBiccari leads a double life. Most of the time, he works as a chef at Sel de la Terre, a chef-owned restaurant on State Street. (In fact, DiBiccari will be the opening chef for Sel de la Terre's new location in the Mandarin Oriental hotel.) But to some Boston diners, DiBaccari is known as Iron Chef Louie, the master of one of the city's most unique dinner parties: a buffet prepared by DiBaccari from ingredients chosen by internet poll.

It's a challenge for the chef. Chef Louie (he recently dropped the "Iron") doesn't find out what he's cooking until 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the dinner. That gives him just a few hours to buy ingredients, devise a menu, and prepare a buffet for as many as 300 diners.

After a hiatus of more than a year and a half, Louie's party returns tonight. Bostonist got a chance to talk to DiBaccari about the party's origins, its challenges, and its role in Boston's social scene. Listen to our podcast to learn about the Will Gilson, the Doogie Howser of Boston cooking, and to find out where Chef Louie puts the cocoa butter.

Image of Chef Louie from his website.