Introducing Chef Joann: The Pioneer
"Eating is a huge part of feeling at home."
Though Chef Joann grew up next door to one of the best culinary institutes in America, she didn’t discover her calling in food until later in life. Lover of the Food Network and hole in the wall restaurants, there’s no greater pleasure for Chef Joann than discovering a great new restaurant. She even planned a road trip from Boston to Tennessee with the only stops in the agenda being restaurants featured in Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!
What's something people wouldn't know when they meet you?
I’m currently re-dating my boyfriend from when I was sixteen—we found each other on Facebook!
Favorite food?
I know it’s so basic, but I can’t help it: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!
Favorite thing to cook/bake?
Roasted chicken dinner, it just fills the house with a delicious scent.
Best thing about working with Tufts Dining? It’s a nice atmosphere to work in, I especially enjoy working around young people. I used to work at the kitchen in a hospital and had a team of high schoolers working with me and I loved it!
Best memory while working with Tufts Dining?
I can’t think of just one, I just think of us all laughing—we’re always laughing ‘till we’re crying! We recently got music in Dewick. And at night, when we’re cleaning up, sometimes we put on Italian music and the ladies at the front, I call them my little Italian Mommas, they get so happy—that may be my favorite!
As the pioneer of little-known restaurants, what has been your greatest discovery?
When my boyfriend and I went on our Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives road trip, we couldn’t find a DDD stop in West Virginia, so I did a little research and I found a tiny place only known to the locals called Blue Grass Kitchen. It was amazing! I had a cheeseburger with homemade pimento cheese!
To read more about Chef Joann and our other chef bloggers, scroll through the About page of this blog.