Daniel Harthausen and his novel pop-up, Young Mother, have soared in popularity since he was declared the winner of The Big Brunch, and here's what fans of his culinary talents should know about the restaurant. Since the cooking competition's debut on HBO in November, The Big Brunch, which was created by Schitt's Creek mastermind Dan Levy, has become an unexpected hit among fans who are already ready for another season. Harthausen, who hails from Richmond, Virginia, competed against nine other culinary masterminds like finalists J. Chong and Danielle Sepsy in order to secure the $300,000 grand prize.
Although Harthausen was up against some fierce competition, his delicious Korean plates consistently impressed Levy and The Big Brunch judges, Sohla El-Waylly and Will Guidara. By the time Daniel, J., and Danielle made it to The Big Brunch finale, the three chefs had determined how they would use the $300,000 to expand their respective businesses. Harthausen, who is the proud chef-owner of Young Mother, ultimately claimed the six-figure prize with a mouth-watering katsu curry dish. While Harthausen and Young Mother rose to become a staple in Richmond prior to his television debut, however, many fans of The Big Brunch are unaware of what they're missing out on.
Daniel Harthausen Launched Young Mother In 2021
Although Young Mother is a relatively new pop-up, Harthausen's restaurant has been a hit since his first dinner took place in 2021. While other chefs like Hell's Kitchen's Gordon Ramsay own dozens of establishments, Young Mother is Harthausen's personal, intricate, and intimate only child. Despite its popularity, the pop-up restaurant only offers a couple of seats to anyone who is lucky enough to secure a reservation, which means that Young Mother's waitlist expands for months into the future. Fans of The Big Brunch who are desperate to visit Young Mother must keep an eye out for Harthausen's announcements on the pop-up's Instagram, @youngmotherva, as the platform is its only source of official contact.
Daniel Harthausen's Young Mother Is Korean & Japanese Inspired
Like the show-stopping plates presented throughout The Big Brunch, Harthausen's Young Mother pop-up pays homage to his culture with Korean and Japanese-inspired dishes. While MasterChef season 3 winner Christine Hà's Vietnamese cuisine impressed Gordon, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot, Harthausen's Korean heritage and Japanese influence have helped develop Young Mother's Korean-Japanese fusion that it's known for. Popular items that have been offered to Young Mother patrons include mochi donuts, sake pairings, and of course, the katsu curry that crowned him The Big Brunch's winner.
Daniel Harthausen Wants To Make Young Mother Permanent
While Young Mother is currently still enjoying success as a pop-up, Harthausen has expressed interest in using The Big Brunch's $300,000 prize to give the restaurant some permanent roots. In an interview with Virginia's Travel Blog to celebrate his The Big Brunch win, Harthausen said that if all goes well, "I’m hoping to have a brick-and-mortar by 2023 here in Richmond, Virginia." Harthausen didn't suggest a potential date, but if fans of The Big Brunch continue to express heavy interest in Young Mother, the pop-up may find a home faster than expected.
The Big Brunch is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Virginia's Travel Blog