#influentialfood

[foodcetera]

10 QUESTIONS WITH… ART SMITH.

this week we're picking the brain of celebrity chef art smith.  when not cooking for the likes of oprah and lady gaga, art is churning out award-winning cookbooks and is involved in numerous charitable causes.  here's what he said:

• coffee or tea? coffee. whatever city i am in i am looking for the best cuppa • what is your catch phrase in the kitchen? "kissing babies" • if you weren’t a chef, what would you be doing? peace corp worker • many people have a spirit animal, what is your spirit food/beverage? southern food, iced tea • anyone past or present, who would you invite to dinner? mother teresa, pope francis • wine… red or white? none, i don't drink wine...gin and tonic extra lime • who is your biggest influence/inspiration in your career? oprah for living with purpose; alice waters for living fresh seasonal; charlie trotter for living excellence • if you could go to any country for dinner where would you go? middle east, jerusalem, beirut, north africa • how would you describe your knife skills-knight, ninja or vader? knight with purpose • what song best describes your life? applause by lady gaga

photograph by morganlynn photography

[foodcetera]

10 QUESTIONS WITH... JOHNNY IUZZINI.

this week we gave celebrity pastry chef johnny iuzzini a crack at our 10 questions. this is what he gave us:

• coffee or tea? espresso- definitely espresso- currently working on developing a project where i will roast coffee and make bean to bar chocolate under the same roof • what is your catch phrase in the kitchen? you have time to lean, then you have time to clean • if you weren't a chef, what would you be doing? building motorcycles- definitely being creative with my hands somehow • many people have a spirit animal, what is your spirit food/beverage? my spirit food would have to be a kit-kat bar or a bowl of amazing pasta, and my spiritual beverage is a negroni or maybe an old fashioned or manhattan • anyone past or present, who would you invite to dinner? i never got to cook for my grandparents- that would be pretty cool • wine... red or white? white/rose in summer- red in winter but bourbon more often • who is your biggest influence/inspiration in your career? daniel boulud- he has been a mentor and a second father to me.  he has been a guiding light and a someone i strive to be like • if you could go to any country for dinner where would you go? right now- i am fascinated with southeast asia and japan • how would you describe your knife skills-knight, ninja or vader? pastry chefs are notorious for dull knives, but i bring mine to korin trading often for some ninja-like sharpening. that said, i’d place myself in the middle • what song best describes your life? johnny cash- solitary man

photograph by ronald cadiz

[foodcetera]

10 QUESTIONS WITH... GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN.

we will be challenging our favorite influential food personalities with the same 10 questions.  to kick it off we have celebrity chef geoffrey zakarian in the hot seat:

• coffee or tea? espresso • what is your catch phrase in the kitchen? rather be looking at it than looking for it • if you weren't a chef, what would you be doing? golf pro • many people have a spirit animal, what is your spirit food/beverage? garlic/rose • anyone past or present, who would you invite to dinner? milton friedman • wine... red or white? red • who is your biggest influence/inspiration in your career? sirio maccioni • if you could go to any country for dinner where would you go? france • how would you describe your knife skills-knight, ninja or vader? beyond either • what song best describes your life? fly me to the moon

photograph by ronald cadiz