When Craig “Chappie” Chapman took over the former Tedesco’s Grillside space and opened Grillside Central, most of the former staff hit the bricks. I’ve seen some waiting tables at other St. Pete spots, but former chef Daniel Womack is AWOL (as far as we know). The young St. Pete native never planned on helming a restaurant; he just came home to visit family. Then opportunity knocked and he started cranking out an odd — but usually extremely tasty — mélange of Southern cookin’ and fine dining that managed to be both accomplished and delightfully amateur at the same time. We’re gonna miss his heavy hand with decadent sauces, the towering constructions reminiscent of ’80s-era presentation and the psychedelic colors he used in desserts that took 15 minutes for a server to explain. Smurf sauce? Where have you gone, Daniel Womack? Our city turns its hungry eyes to you.
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2008.
