Обо мне
I was born and raised in New York. I moved to New Orleans in 1980 to start cooking professionally and had a tremendous experience learning how to cook exciting Cajun and Creole food. After 2 years and plenty of disciplined training, I was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America and was officially on my way.
Upon graduating in September of 1983, I moved to California to formally start my professional career.
In Los Angeles the “California Cuisine” movement was in full swing and it was fortunate for me to be involved with many established chefs and restaurateurs. Over the next 9 years I went to work for some of the best chefs in LA and even spent a few months in Paris to polish my French cooking technique. I worked stints with Michele Richard at Citrus, Bruce Marder at the West Beach Café and finished as the Executive Chef at the Broadway Deli in Santa Monica.
My long time friend and one-time boss, Joseph Suceveanu recruited me in 1992 to open LunChan Bar & Grill in Aoyama. I would like to think I am responsible for making casual “California Cuisine” accessible to the masses. When I got to Tokyo, there was no such thing as a Caesar Salad that I could find! Of course we had Spago and Roy’s but they were “special date” kind of places, LunChan was for anyone, anytime and reasonably priced with good old American “value for money”.
Working for a large company such as Royal was a major phase in my career. Moving to Japan and working for a traditional Japanese company was an incredible learning experience. The difference in culture was so overwhelming; food was an easy way to bridge the gap. After six long years with the “Royal Co.”, parent of LunChan, Il Forno, Sizzler, Royal Host, and Royal Deli, though I was ready for something new. I joined Joseph and Ian Tozer, an old chef friend from LA to form an independent food service consulting company and we got our first big job, taking over TY Harbor Brewery in Tennoz Isle. From there we have continued with Cicada in 2003 and Beacon in 2006.
“Taiyo no gochiso” (the sun’s bounty) was the name of a six month cooking show I did on Wowow cable TV here in Tokyo, a lot of work, a little fun and almost enough money, never again!
Living in Tokyo has expanded my culinary world by letting me become intimate with the local cuisine as well as affording me a chance to travel around Asia. I love Thai food and it has been a major influence on my cooking style in the last few years.
Кулинарное влияние
My interest in cooking developed at an early age. I spent a lot of time at my Italian grandmother Nana’s house in Queens NY when I was just a child. Grandma Chiddo was an excellent cook. I spent many an afternoon helping her in the kitchen. It was a wonderful experience watching her cook with such passion and love. She put her heart and soul into every dish she made.
After several years mixed up in high school and college, I got a part time job at the famous Tavern on the Green in NY City where I got my first taste of a real restaurant, it was exciting and intimidating. I knew that was what I wanted, but my dad was not happy to hear the engineering career was over.
Награды, почести и соообщества
Member of Culinary Institute of America Alumni Club of Japan