Eric Ripert was at Lamplighter!?

When TV chef, Eric Ripert, came through Richmond a couple weeks back, he was sighted at Comfort and tweeted from Carena’s. But, did you know that he stayed at the Jefferson and was spotted at Lamplighter? Here’s a bit from an Top Chef forum:

I was walking into a new grungy coffee shop in Richmond called LampLighters and as I was walking in, I caught a glimpse of this guy at a table. I knew I’ve seen him before, and I knew it was associated with food, so the whole time I was ordering coffee I was cycling through Richmond restaurants trying to pinpoint where I’ve seen him before. Come out, sit at the table next to him and his entourage, and eavesdrop on there conversation for the next half hour.

It wasn’t for another 10 minutes, when he spoke, that it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve seen this guy on Top Chef a dozen different times! A quick google for “french top chef guest” showed me Eric Ripert! He was mostly giving tips to a local restaurant owner on the best way to cook crabs in various different ways.

More overheard dirt about Richmond and Top Chef here.

PS: Eric Ripert is one of my favorite chefs. Check out his books.