About Me
Education
I began my journey in the culinary world at my father’s pizzeria in Garfield, NJ, starting at the young age of eleven. I initially handled tasks like answering phones, taking orders, and managing the cash register. Once I was tall enough to reach the ovens, I started making pizzas, and as I grew older, I took on more responsibilities, eventually running and operating the restaurant until I got married and moved away.
Throughout my career, I’ve gained diverse experience in the food industry, working in various roles from line cook at Rustler's Steakhouse and IHOP to holding managerial positions across multiple restaurant settings. I studied Hotel and Restaurant Management at Bergen Community College, which helped me develop a strong foundation in the industry. Over the years, I've served as a General Manager in fast food, and held roles as a front-of-house manager, bar manager, kitchen manager, and more in full-service restaurants.
2011-2014
Currently, I am a chef with Gourmet Dining, and I've worked in a range of environments, including a medical facility, a pharmaceutical company, a private school, and now a state university.
My passion for cooking started early, inspired by watching an Italian cooking show, “Louisa,” on the Italian channel when I was about 9 or 10 years old. In those days, without the convenience of the internet, I would write to the show for recipes, which they would send back on index cards. The first dish I ever made was stuffed onions, a memory that my mother fondly recalls to this day.
2007-2010
I’ve faced significant challenges in my life, including surviving a heart attack and undergoing open-heart surgery with a quadruple bypass. These experiences have shaped who I am today, fueling my passion for the culinary arts and my dedication to the craft.