Stacy Nemeth & Michael Isabella - The Washington Post

By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 20, 2009

In the current season of the reality show "Top Chef," Michael Isabella comes off as brash, cocky and a bit of a misogynist.

Stacy Nemeth would describe Isabella, the man she married on Aug. 29, two weeks after the show premiered, in different terms: intense, straightforward and caring.

But it takes a while to learn to love the head chef at Zaytinya -- and no one knows that better than her.

Nemeth was serving as the maitre d' of a Greek restaurant in Atlanta when Isabella flew down from Philadelphia to interview for an opening in the kitchen. The owners seated Isabella at the bar for an introductory meal but forgot to assign him a server. Nemeth stepped in, keeping his wine glass full and chatting about life in Atlanta.

The pretty brunette with gray-green eyes made an impression on that May 2005 evening, but Isabella was keeping things professional; he didn't get her number. He did, however, accept an offer to cook at the restaurant, Kyma. But by the time he relocated three months later, Nemeth had moved on.  Read the full story