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And Julia Child

Thomas Keller

Chef Boyardi. Just kidding I'm with khfrisco Eric Ripert.

You know, I would have loved to had cheese on toast with Julia Child. What an amazing woman. What an amazing chef.

Otherwise my vote is split. Either the chef at Gino's East, or the guy who mans the grill at Ben's Chili Bowl.

Jaques Pepin would be awesome! He's so charming.

I would also be fine with Martin Yan or Alton Brown.

Eric Ripert. I've been to his restaurant, and he was there, but I seriously doubt he was sauteeing the fish himself. That said, even if it was a Big Mac, and he was hand feeding me, I'd be happy, because I

Fernand Point, Auguste Escoffier and Marco Pierre White.... Was that one?! Well of course they would all be working on my meal in the same kitchen... In theory at least.

Beurre beurre, donnez-moi du beurre, toujours du beurre!

anthony bordain. between the food and the conversation, i would be in heaven.

Daniel Boulud

I would have to go with Mario Batali. When I was 12 or so I dreamed of being invited onto his show so I could help him chop stuff and he could cook for me and I could eat OMG POLENTA and all of the other lovely things he made sound so delicious.

Cooked for me: Michel Richard. I want to sit and watch, of course. And chat.

Cooked with me, in my own kitchen: Mario Batali. As much as I adore Alton Brown and I like his scientific explanations, I like Batali's more funloving and organic cooking style. Plus, I think Brown would want to reorganize my kitchen. Batali would just settle in and deal with it as it is.

Cooked for me and my friends: I'd love to have Ina Garten, Michael Chiarello and RIck Bayless cater a party for me.

I'd love for Lidia to be my next-door neighbor so I could pop in and see what she's cooking. And maybe Giada on the other side. Yea, I like Italian food.

And just for the amusement, I'd love to see Sandra Lee show up at my house and try to cook from my supplies, no shopping trips allowed.

I think it'd be fun to hang out and eat with the folks from America's Test Kitchen. They seem like a cool bunch, and they always are making things I REALLY want to eat - like roast chicken with the crispiest skin on Earth, or triple chocolate cookies.

And, because I want her to be my new best friend, I'd love to have dinner with Nigella Lawson.

Mario Batali or Tom C (Top Chef).

I wouldn't turn Alton away either, that man understand the meaning of a great donut -- and that makes him a true kindred spirit!

mario batali... eric ripert... or try to challenge michael symon to cook a fully vegetarian meal for me. That would be cool to watch...

I was thinking Morimoto myself!

@ gingercookiewithlime: he is so charming, isn't he? i like your other picks too-we have similar tastes! i grew up on yan can cook & alton's my favorite 'new' tv instructor. i think it'd be fun to be a student in a class he taught.
@mizbee: thanks! you by far gave the best answer with the Phantom Tollbooth! i guess this kinda was the food version of ye olde college essay topic. dead-i'd have to say julia child...fictional tho? since you already nailed it with the phantom tollbooth, i suppose i'll have to go with the swedish chef--mm bork bork!
@dbcurrie:your challenge to sandra lee had me on the floor!
@pooch: did you know that lydia used to work for christopher walken's parents at their bakery? (this bread needs more cowbell!) lol
@reelgoodrecipes & mrstkach: i didn't consider morimoto-he's such a genius. gonna have to make him a secondary choice. he's always my favorite to watch on iron chef.

I've been thinking about this since I first saw the topic several days ago. Limiting myself to only one famous chef,l I cannot come to a conclusion. There are too many who are so different that I can't choose.

And not to be lame but if I could have a meal cooked by any one particular human dead or alive it would be my mom. So much good food died with her that it's tragic. (Her recipe box disappeared after she died. No one knows what happened to it. If word gets to her in the afterlife that we lost it, she'll haunt us forever. And not in a good way.)

Anyway, I'll pick a few: Mario, Ming Tsai, and whoever was in charge of the remoulade sauce and cheeseburger po' boys at College Inn in New Orleans.

Molto Mario - he just has that hedonistic style that appeals to me. But since I've never eaten anyone's cooking, can they audition first? :)

Tyler Florence. His ultimate show recipes always leave me drooling.

If he's still alive, Justin Wilson. Anyone remember him?

Forget all those namby-pamby, hoidy toidy, snob chefs that we get on TV these days. Justin Wilson would blow all those Yanks right out of the water. I would love to sit down, drink wine, and sample his cajun cooking. Ohhh-We!

Since I am sure he's no longer with us, I'll take Onepercent99. This person is bold enough to pick themself, so that says enough for me. All I ask, is no fru-fru crap or off the wall ingredients. I want real food for real people. Oh, and nothing with mayo!

Cheers!

Ina Garten.

Mr. Pepin - he's such a charmer and I love the sophisticated simplicity of his recipes

Ina Garten

Jacques Pepin...hands down. I've been watching his PBS shows ever since I can remember (and that's a loooong time). He has such an easy style and charm. It would be a dream!

1. Anthony Bourdain
2. Wiley Dufresne