STOCKTON – Port City’s native son has returned with a … filet?
When celebrity chef Michael Midgley left the kitchen at Ernie’s Food & Spirits two months ago to open Midgley’s Public House in Lincoln Center, he envisioned a dining room filled with pods of people, each sharing from the same plates, dabbling from a tapas-style menu.
Turns out, the City of Stockton and Midgley’s loyal following, many hailing from Manteca, weren’t ready to share.
Not their food, anyways.
They cried out for meat and potatoes, the foundation on which Midgley built his reputation at Ernie’s. Steaks. Gourmet burgers. Chicken and pork chops. Lobster and salmon. Each cleverly cooked and plated.
The former Top Chef contestant was happy to oblige, delivering a steakhouse menu that has attracted thousands to the Brickwalk.
Midgley recently opened his doors for The Bulletin to discuss his new adventure, familiar faces in the dining room and his hopes for 2015. These are his thoughts, raw and uncut:
“It’s crazy how much support comes from Manteca. It’s been overwhelming. It sort of says they weren’t just coming to Ernie’s for the restaurant. These people are following me and it’s pretty cool.”
“It’s exceeded all of my expectations in terms of the number of people showing up. They keep on coming. I couldn’t be any busier. I’m packed every night. Everyone’s trying to get in.”
“I owned a bar when I was 25, but owning your own restaurant … it’s like having another wife. It’s non-stop, around the clock. It’s like you’re married to it. It doesn’t turn off. Most people can go home after they’ve punched the clock, but this is constantly on your mind. I think I’ve taken two days off in two months. To be successful in the restaurant business, you have to be there all the time.”
“When I first left Ernie’s, my vision was a tapas style/small plate/shared food menu. But by popular demand, people said to do a steakhouse. They said there are no steakhouses in Stockton. I was urged by (Lincoln Center) as well. ‘Hey, man, can you switch it up and bring us some steaks?’ That’s how I came up with the same concept. If you ate at Ernie’s, that’s the food I like to cook. It’s meat and potatoes – and I do it well.”
“My wife (Laci) manages up front. On any given day my kids could be in here, running around. Sometimes, they pop in for dinner so I can see them. Family and friends made this happen, and it’s family and friends that are supporting me. It makes it feel like a small town.”
“My resolution? I told my wife that I would just listen to her. ‘Yes, dear.’ That’s my New Year’s resolution, listen to the woman. My goal? To stay open and keep cooking good food; keep serving good food that makes people want to come back.”
