When you’re as dedicated of a Foodie as me, Celebrity Chefs are the new Rock Stars — and from Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain to Jonathan Waxman and Rocco Dispirito, I have met many of the best. But no previous personal collision with culinary genius has matched the heights of squee-worthiness attained by my recent chance meeting with former Top Chef contestant and all around fabulous uber Hottie, Fabio Viviani! I love him! Fabio happened to be shilling for Bertolli Olive Oil at last week’s Editor Showcase at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, and he was just as charming and charismatic in person as he is on TV. Fabio Viviani!

Bertoli Olive Oil Booth Display

Fabio was gracious enough to pose for a photo of us together and, as you can see by my face, this was a moment I will not soon be forgetting. But it wasn’t actually the first time I had seen Fabio out and about while I was on a Food blog-related excursion. Two years ago, I was having drinks and snacks Upstairs at The Kimberly Hotel when I noticed a guy sitting at the table directly behind me who had what looked like a Sock Monkey (yes, I just typed that) clearly visible in his rear jeans pocket.  A split second after my initial observation, Sock Monkey guy turned his head and I immediately recognized him as Fabio, who is one of my favorite contestants from Top Chef, ever.

I was just emboldened enough by alcohol consumption to have said something pleasantly confrontational to Fabio at that time, but his party was made up exclusively of very attractive women who were all clearly fawning all over him, so the timing was a bit off. Minutes later, he was gone and I thought I had missed my chance, so thank you Bertolli Olive Oil and Editor Showcase for providing me with a true fan moment with Fabio. And thanks Fabio, for your delicious food, and for just being you.