Expert Analyst MIKE VILSHIRE
from Marina del Rey, Calif.
- If Feast Fest scouters can sign him successfully before 11:59 p.m. PDT tonight, Ondrej Yiivititimaev will become the finishing touch of a monstrous launch into the Russian culinary scene this offseason, one in which scouters signed two other Russian chefs, Konstaatyn Medvalaev and Katerina Ymykaterina, and negotiated massive extensions for existing Russian or Russian-American chefs Petr Jones (7 years, $521,881 staggered to $610,038), Andri Jones (5 years, $477,809 staggered to $549,626), and Alexei Aiber (4 years, $731,880 staggered to $777,571). So it's clear that Feast Fest has made a long-lasting commitment to Russian chefs, one that will likely continue in the coming years. But what's the reason for the pivot to Moscow? Two words: work ethic. In recent times where many hardworking chefs have ended their careers graciously, when some younger, newer chefs have been perceived as lazy, and when exhibition scores have dropped (and it's something of a small miracle that actual Thanksgiving Day scores haven't dropped off by more than a percentage point too), the strict work ethic that is instilled into Russian chefs when they train has become increasingly attractive to Feast Fest scouters. A similar case can be made for French chefs, who are known for their diligence and often considered the finest chefs in the world. It didn't happen this year, but now that Feast Fest has invaded Russia this offseason, look for them to take increased ganders at French chefs in the coming years. It's all a part of Feast Fest's general plans for international expansion, especially into Europe, where competitive cooking has more popularity than in the U.S.
Yiivititimaev is a dream signing for Feast Fest, with a sterling resume: graduated from Cordon Bleu Schools 2010; appointed in 2012 to Head Chef of Yellow Room, one of Moscow's top restaurants; gained NCA membership in 2010 during his time in New York and podiumed (top 5) in NCA's Best Russian Award four times; ranked fifth in NCA's All-Around Best European in 2013, behind several other prominent Feast Fest chefs; trained with breakout young Feast Fest chef Andri Jones and has also had extensive relations with his brother, Feast Fest fixture Petr.
Yiivititimaev and his agent have agreed to a core, nonstaggered deal of 3 years, with somewhere between $475,000 and $482,000 (the exact amount needs to be determined tonight). More pressing about today and tonight's negotiations are bread and butter issues that include:
- Travel expenses: This has often been an area of contention between Feast Fest and chefs it signs from overseas. Jet fuel costs alone could reach an estimated $124,561 a year for as many as twenty yearly transatlantic flights. Andri Jones, who still lives in Russia, worked out a 65%-35% deal over travel expenses, with Feast Fest paying 65%, and Jawrodly Jurrjens of Amsterdam currently pays 30% of travel expenses to Feast Fest's 70%. But Feast Fest is giving more money to Yiivititimaev than they did to Jones or Jurrjens when they first signed, so Feast Fest scouters may want Yiivititimaev's camp to chip in more, closer to a 55%-45% deal. Alternatively, Feast Fest could give Yiivititimaev a salary lower on the $475K-$482K spectrum and use the savings to pay for more of the travel expenses and work out a 60%-40% arrangement. Feast Fest would be willing to do either, as long as they don't have to pay more money than they've already pledged they would. So the travel expenses maelstrom is in Yiivititimaev's hands: it'll come down to whether he wants to receive less money or spend more, even though his net income would be pretty much the same for either option. To get in Feast Fest's good graces, it'd probably be best to agree to 55%-45%. He should really only fight against that division if FF wants to give him something on the low end of his already agreed range, in which case he should argue for 60%-40%. Both sides are in this to make a profit.
- Healthcare: Feast Fest's international healthcare policy for chefs states that they must maintain healthcare within their country of residence. In other words, Feast Fest is willing to pay for healthcare costs if they come under the often-shoddy Russian system. If he comes to America for Feast Fest related events on a frequent basis, he may wish to pursue dual citizenship and then purchase American healthcare, which FF wouldn't be as willing to pay for. But that's a long term issue: tonight means sorting out the provider and rudimentary issues such as costs.
- Line of power: Yiivititimaev and Feast Fest will probably be in agreement on a fifth line spot, but his agent, who's not quite as humble as he, might try to jockey for a fourth line spot. Granted, if Yiivititimaev could be made into a fourth line spot under fifth line money, it would be good value for Feast Fest, but the likelihood that Yiivititimaev would be declared ready for the fourth line of power, which includes such powerhouses as Lisa Choi, Peter Dumas, Aleck Monde, and Jacqueline Pierce-Mulleone, is low. He has star potential for the future, but should get his feet wet at the fifth line of power (where he'd work among highly competent and talented chefs including Kevin Bough Mothily, Keith Wholehreh, Lakeland Donavert, and fellow countryman Alexei Aiber) before moving up.
FF Wire Service
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