By Ezra Klein
There’s a phenomenon in journalism called “burying the lede”: It’s when a writer buries the factoid or argument that makes his story interesting deep in the body of the piece. I do not mean to bury my lede. So here it is: Earlier tonight, Tom Colicchio saved Joan Nathan’s life.
Joan Nathan is a James Beard-award winning cookbook author best known for her books Jewish Cooking in America and The New American Cooking. She lives in Washington, DC. Which is how, presumably, she came to host a sprawling party for the Art.Food.Hope inaugural events benefiting DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table. It was, well, very DC. Bob Woodward was there, and so was Carl Bernstein. Jeff Toobin was in the corner and Rachel Maddow wandered through.
But it wasn’t just politicos. Art.Food.Hope is a set of 12 fundraising dinner parties organized by Ayelet Waldman and Alice Waters and catered by an array of accomplished chefs, most of whom were in attendance at Nathan’s soiree. Jose Andres presided boisterously over the proceedings, and some of his kitchen staff spent the night in the front yard roasting a lamb. Daniel Boulud worked the room, Najmieh Batmanglij — whose son turns out to be in Vampire Weekend, oddly enough — spooned Persian wedding rice onto plates, Dan Barber ambled about, Lydia Bastianich floated through a couple of times, and Tom Colicchio was pinned against the banister deflecting fans (there is grassroots anger over last week’s elimination). Which is how he ended up standing next to Nathan when a chunk of chicken went down her wind pipe.
I was in the next room concentrating on a plate of lamb sausage. Alice Waters flung herself into the banister behind me. She was shouting. “Does anyone know the Heimlich maneuver?” She ran back. This is not what you want to hear at a dinner party. Moreover, this is not what you want to hear in the room full of chefs. Don’t they teach the Heimlich at the CIA? Moments later, Waters appeared again. “It’s okay,” she breathed.
What happened in the interim was this: Tom Colicchio knew the Heimlich maneuver. And the Top Chef judge performed it. On Joan Nathan. So not only can Colicchio run multiple restaurants and anchor a cooking show and win five James Beard awards and cook for the rescure workers after 9/11, but he can save your life. Versatile guy. Think he’d be willing to manage the stimulus package?
Incidentally, I managed to chat with Colicchio and Nathan a bit later in the evening. Colicchio was modest. “I just happened to be nearby,” he shrugged. Nathan was more effusive, “He’s so strong!”
67 responses so far ↓
slag // January 19, 2009 at 1:37 am
“Think he’d be willing to manage the stimulus package?”
Well, he meets the ‘bald, white male’ criteria for the job. But how good is he at burning things? Specifically, money. How good is he at burning money?
Todd // January 19, 2009 at 1:51 am
Wow. I’d forgotten that there are people who don’t know the Heimlich maneuver. I mean, good for Tom . . . and for anyone who doesn’t know the Heimlich maneuver, please just google it; there are numerous websites and youtube videos that explain all you need to know in less than two minutes. It’s basic first aid, much easier than CPR–and much more likely to save a life.
Erin // January 19, 2009 at 8:13 am
Quite possibly the best story ever.
spencerackerman // January 19, 2009 at 8:53 am
I still can’t believe you were at this thing.
Another reason to love Tom Colicchio (like we needed any) « relishments. // January 19, 2009 at 9:40 am
[...] January 19, 2009 Ezra Klein of the Internet Food Association posted a great story this morning about the fact that Tom Colicchio, chef and head judge on “Top Chef” saved a life last night. [...]
raffaellopantucci // January 19, 2009 at 9:51 am
I am surprised he didn’t break her in two – he’s built like a boxer/fighter/legbreaker!
herbaqu // January 19, 2009 at 10:27 am
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Maddy // January 19, 2009 at 10:43 am
Ezra: it was (though we didnt meet…) quite the foodie rock star party indeed—and i wondered how long it would be until the “real story” of joan and toms intimate interaction broke (they came together over a piece of najmieh’s chicken!) but have to correct you – as my director is soon to correct Joan and Alice – that the organization i work with – FRESHFARM Markets not only was involved in sourcing the food for the dinners but is a beneficiary of the event as well
Michael // January 19, 2009 at 11:14 am
Colicchio should reprise the role of Mel. Kiss my grits!
Linky linky « The Brûlée Blog // January 19, 2009 at 12:25 pm
[...] January 19, 2009 in news and other links | Tags: Heston Blumenthal, Jay Rayner, Michelin, Tom Colicchio Tom Colicchio saves a life [...]
Joe // January 19, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I cannot imagine how harshly he judged whoever made the chicken
El Cid // January 19, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Shouldn’t choking aid be among the most basic procedures trained in restaurants?
A few restaurants I worked in part time actually had posters in the kitchen demonstrating it, and one boss had an EMT worker who was a friend show all the waitstaff and bussing staff the techniques.
Rocio Yousif // January 19, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I am not surprise. Chef Collichio always manages to stay cool calm an collected even in the most “heated”
moments at Top Chef. One more reason to like the guy.
Rocio
Before and After the Heimlich Maneuver - Diner’s Journal Blog - NYTimes.com // January 19, 2009 at 12:55 pm
[...] reports on what happened at Joan Nathan’s house last night when the hostess wasn’t having the Heimlich maneuver performed on her by a “strong” Tom [...]
Tracy // January 19, 2009 at 12:56 pm
love it!!
jcricket // January 19, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Go Tom. I performed the Heimlich maneuver on someone once. Don’t know if it saved their life, but it eliminated the choking that was going on.
I agree with the others who have written that this is a simple fix everyone should know – esp. in the restaurant biz.
Little known fact, but the Heimlich maneuver cut the amount of accidental death by choking down by like 90%. Pretty impressive.
Carlo Scannella // January 19, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Alice Waters doesn’t know the Heimlich?
Seriously?
Fleur de Lis Gal // January 19, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I lurves me some Colicchio (even before this). Despite my ex (the chef), I have a thing for men in chef coats! Bourdain, Besh, Batali. Something about having mad cooking & knife skills. (no, didn’t date the ex ’cause he was a chef, that was lagniapped and the only good thing he could do!)
Rock on Chef C!!! :)
Peace all! (and chew your food!)
Mike Licht // January 19, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Was that a chunk of free-range chicken? And where’s the recipe?
Only kiddin.’ Zei gesundt, Joan. That Collichio is a mensch.
Natalie Sztern // January 19, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Until this post, I would have thought that any restauranteur, owner or manager would ensure that each staff member have instruction in such life saving manoeuvres…especially the heimlich since it is directly related to eating.
I am amazed that this is not done for staff.
Robin // January 19, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I hope she eventually went to the hospital to get checked out, as those who truly choke (and subsequently are Heimliched upon) should get a medical exam to see if indeed no tiny bits remained aspirated and to see if the life-saving procedure did not cause injury (as it sometimes can, including cracked ribs, etc.) It’s hard to believe this crowd wasn’t more well-educated about all this.
Bunny // January 19, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I love Tom C!
He is so suave and debonair! :)
Guilty Carnivore · Life saver // January 19, 2009 at 3:56 pm
[...] Tom Colicchio saved someone’s life. [...]
laborlawguy // January 19, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Where did you get that spelling for lead? A lead is a lead is a lead.
Jenn C. // January 19, 2009 at 4:29 pm
To laborlawguy:
From Mirriam Webster:
Main Entry: lede
Pronunciation: \ˈlēd\
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of 2lead
Date: 1976
: the introductory section of a news story that is intended to entice the reader to read the full story
Kay // January 19, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Dude, that’s just drop dead sexy. :P
hookedonhouses // January 19, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Well, I didn’t think I could like Tom Colicchio more than I already did, but this post proved me wrong! What a great story.
ArlaInNYC // January 19, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I’m not surprised he’s cool under pressure. I think Obama will be the same. Though I’m a little disappointed with all his lavish spending on the inaurgural festivities. It seems a tad insensitive with so many Americans out of work.
gambypants // January 19, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Mmmm, Charlie would love to be saved by Tommy Boy. Even more reasons to love Mr. Colicchio.
Tyler // January 19, 2009 at 5:59 pm
@laborlawguy
From The Lede, a NYT blog:
In the news business, the opening sentences of a story are referred to as its “lede” — spelled that way, journalism lore has it, to avoid confusion with the lead typesetting that once dominated newspaper printing presses.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com
Tom Colicchio Saves | Atlanta Restaurant Reviews | Atlanta Food Blogs | Dining in Atlanta // January 19, 2009 at 6:00 pm
[...] Internet Food Association reports that Tom Colicchio saved the life of Joan Nathan, a James Beard-award winner. Top Chef fans [...]
marafaye // January 19, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Excellent. Just another reason to love Tom.
hotpinkmartini // January 19, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I LOVe this bit of information. Thanks for sharing. I <3 colicchio (even more now)
brianmpei // January 19, 2009 at 7:05 pm
But what did he say about the dubious elimination?
mslewis // January 19, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Well, having actually worked for Dr. Heimlich year ago, I know the Heimlich Maneuver but pray everyday that I won’t be asked to use it. It is damn scary when someone chokes and their life might depend on you being cool, calm and collected. None of which I am!!! Perhaps those people at the party were thinking along those lines because I’m certain most of them know the Maneuver.
Good for Tom. I love him.
Tom Colicchio Saves Life During Inaugural Dinner // January 19, 2009 at 7:11 pm
[...] The Internet Food Association.] Tags: joan nathan, tom colichio, Top [...]
aSD // January 19, 2009 at 7:12 pm
TEST
Inauguration Sightings Continue! « DC Striving // January 19, 2009 at 7:15 pm
[...] January 19, 2009 by KPD I love Top Chef, I love Craft, and I love the work of DC Central Kitchen…so I love this story!! [...]
Elizabeth // January 19, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Wish I was there, Maddy! FYI the floater’s name is Lidia (identical vowels flank the “d”) Bastianich.
Mark K. // January 19, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Great post. Great story.
What a party!
bitnp // January 19, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I have a serious crush on Colicchio. There is something so sexy about a guy who can cook.
Tom Colicchio performs Heimlich maneuver, saving famous food writer’s life | Food and More with John Kessler // January 19, 2009 at 10:52 pm
[...] Read all about it here. [...]
ThisGlobe.com Blogs » Early Addition // January 19, 2009 at 11:04 pm
[...] At a DC party last night, Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio saved a choking cookbook author’s life with the Heimlich maneuver. [...]
Peg // January 19, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Figures that Waters wouldn’t know how to do it. I met her a couple of years ago at a benefit and was thunderstruck at what a ditzy dilletante she is. Feh.
Tom Colicchio Uses Heimlich Manuver to Save Cookbook Author’s Life | FuzzyClam.com // January 19, 2009 at 11:30 pm
[...] According to Ezra Klein­… of the Internet Food Association, who was also in attendance at the dinner, Alice Waters came running, shouting for someone to perform the Heimlich Manuveur after Nathan began to choke. Colicchio happened to be close by and was able to dislodge the offending morsel quickly. [...]
Thomas Beck // January 20, 2009 at 7:26 am
The spending is no more lavish on Obama’s inauguration than on anyone else’s in the past. The press are reporting a cost of $160 million as opposed to, say, Bush’s $42 million in 2004 – without mentioning that the Obama figure includes the security cost while the Bush figure did not. If you add in the cost of security for Bush’s second inauguration, it comes to over $150 million – virtually the same as this year.
vizyondaki filmler // January 20, 2009 at 10:08 am
I lovee this bit of information. Thanks for sharing
Another Scene from Joan Nathan’s Party - Diner’s Journal Blog - NYTimes.com // January 20, 2009 at 10:10 am
[...] cook for the new first family. The two reached a détente Sunday night, at the same party where Tom Colicchio performed the Heimlich maneuver on Joan [...]
Channel Surfing » “Top Chef’s” Tom Colicchio to the rescue! // January 20, 2009 at 12:48 pm
[...] Read all about it here. [...]
dumdedumdum // January 20, 2009 at 5:03 pm
even in the picture accompanying Ezra’s post, Colicchio is performing the Heimlich on a really thin invisible person!
good on him, of course.
Jillian // January 20, 2009 at 6:59 pm
And, EOnline cited you all!
Lynne // January 20, 2009 at 8:01 pm
We need to remember that the cost of the festivities eventually filter down to $$ in the pockets of those doing the work that generates the costs. That’s all of us in one way or another … from the guys setting up the barricades, to the folks doing the food prep, to the cop on the street, to the souvenir vendor ……… and on and on. I don’t begrudge them a penny.
ShortWoman» Blog Archive » A Non-Political Post About the Automotive Industry // January 20, 2009 at 8:45 pm
[...] closing: checklists save lives; so does Tom Colicchio; the Great College Hoax; and finally, seriously, I wish the very best for our new President, his [...]
A Heroic Turn for Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio | Latest Celebrity Stories // January 21, 2009 at 7:02 am
[...] originally reported on the Internet Food Association blog, Colicchio was cornered by Top Chef fans peeved by last week’s elimination, when another [...]
Best of the Buzz : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:02 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
Boston : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:02 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
Chicago : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:02 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
London : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:03 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
Los Angeles : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:03 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
New York City : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:04 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
Philadelphia : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:04 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
San Francisco : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:04 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
Washington D.C. : Dining News Elsewhere: Peanut Problems, Blogger Gets Gout // January 21, 2009 at 12:05 pm
[...] – Tom Colicchio will save your life. [IFA] [...]
Walter Scheib to Alice Waters: Lay Off the White House Chef - Young & Hungry - Washington City Paper // January 21, 2009 at 6:47 pm
[...] were in meeting their goals, but one meal did make headlines when uber-toque and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio performed the Heimlich maneuver on cookbook author Joan Nathan and saved her [...]
Tom Colicchio Will Save Your Life | GoHamptons.com // January 22, 2009 at 3:41 pm
[...] Tom Colicchio: Hero [Internet Food Association] Related Who Is Trying to Steal Obama’s Thunder? [Daily Intel] [...]
The IFA Gets a Shout Out on Top Chef. « The Internet Food Association // March 4, 2009 at 10:28 pm
[...] Yes. Yes there were. [...]
Derek // September 5, 2009 at 3:28 pm
More choking stories
http://goodfoodonkcrw.vox.com/library/posts/tags/choking/