A Lifelong Passion for Food

When I was 7 years old my mom (who is now 94!) gave me a gift that I have cherished for all these years. It was Betty Crocker’s Boy’s and Girl’s Cookbook and I vividly recall endlessly poring over the colorful illustrations and photos. I was completely fascinated by it all. Little did I know the impact that it would have on the course of my life.

We were a large (I’m the youngest of 7) and active family but every night we all gathered around the table for dinner. The fare was typical, simple, comfort food; Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes, Brisket, Chicken Cacciatore and the like. My mother being a devout Catholic, we upheld the “no meat on Friday” rule, so tunafish sandwiches and Campbell’s Tomato Soup were on the menu. Conversation of current events was always lively and we were encouraged and expected to contribute. These fond memories are the influences that led me to over 25 years in the hospitality industry planning and executing a variety of events for a distinguished roster of affluent clients.

Living in New York in the late 1990’s and working at the magnificent Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island I enrolled in Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School (now ICE- Institute of Culinary Education) An internship at the Television Food Network followed and I was subsequently hired as a Chef working on shows such as Emeril, Molto Mario, Ready, Set, Cook and many more. One of the highlights of that experience was preparing the mise en place for a cheese souffle for the great Julia Child on the set of Emeril Live.

Over the years my knowledge of the practices within the agriculture and food industries has opened my eyes to the importance of eating organically, locally and humanely. We try to eat as organically as possible in our home, and I highly recommend using clean products in all my recipes. We also pay attention to the chemical load and carbon footprint we are all exposed to and responsible for in our everyday lives.

I hope my passion and experience bring inspiration to your kitchen and table.

Healthy cooking and eating delicious food makes for a happy life!

Please note:  alll photos and recipes are mine unless otherwise credited.

Sean Connery

Mario Batali

Jerry Rice

Lou Piniella