@TomColicchio + @GailSimmons Talk Food and Temple Court in New Downtown Alliance Video

Chef and Restaurateur Tom Colicchio sat down with fellow Top Chef judge Gail Simmons for an inside look at his restaurant Temple Court in the latest video from The Alliance for Downtown New York.  Located in The Beekman Hotel, Temple Court has earned high marks for both Chef Colicchio's signature style and seasonal take on classic dishes as well as for the restaurant and bar's meticulously appointed decor.  Here he tells us how the restaurant pays homage to the neighborhood's history.

Watch the video at: http://twn.nyc/TempleCourt

"A lot of what we do here at Temple Court starts with this idea of bringing back the classics and making them modern.  It's all a metaphor for what's going on Downtown.  What's old is new, what's new is old – it's all coming back again," notes Chef/Owner Colicchio.

"Walking from the Oculus to Temple Court, you can literally visit the future and the past of Lower Manhattan within 15 minutes," adds Simmons.

Temple Court was one of the most highly anticipated restaurant openings in Lower Manhattan and is part of the wave of established names and up-and-coming food stars joining the neighborhood's ranks.

On the horizon, additional Lower Manhattan restaurant openings will include projects from:

– Andrew Carmellini (The Dutch),
– Jean-Georges Vongerichten (ABC Kitchen, Jean-Georges),
– Daniel Humm and Will Guidara (Eleven Madison Park),
– Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern),
– David Chang (Momofuku) and
– James Kent (Nomad).

This video is part of a series where the Alliance enlists local chefs and food personalities to go behind-the-scenes and tell us why they've chosen to set up shop in Lower Manhattan, what their favorite spots are, and help explain why #DownIsWhatsUp. The series is produced by the Alliance for Downtown New York and the creative team at Milkbox.

Follow @DowntownNYC to learn more about why #DownIsWhatsUp