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MEET

Chef Michael

AWARD-WINNING MASTER OF FOOD

American by birth, Chef Michael has more than four decades as an award-winning master of food, cooking and entertaining. His roots come from the lessons learned in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother affectionately called 'Nan'. Raised in a small rural farm town in Port Murray (North West NJ) were he grew up with memories of huge gardens filled with sun kissed vegetables and clove-laced raisin pies cooling on the window sill that connected family and friends with home cooked meals around the dinner table.

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He began his training opening the 1st Casino in Atlantic City at Capriccio in Resorts International as an apprentice to Exec Chefs Luigi Burretta and Vito Perrucci crafting classical Italian cuisine. He then transferred inner hotel to the French room of Le Palais studying under CMC Teddy Kriner (a.k.a. The Sauce Dr.) ending his AC run with opening gourmet rooms with two Trump properties; Ivana’s at the Plaza and Delphino’s at the Castle. After his impressive 5 Diamond 4 Star tenure at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, he ventured into the culinary mecca of the quintessential gourmet grocer, Dean & Deluca in New York City where he perfected the art of legendary customer service opening three properties in Philly where he currently lives.

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Chef Michael toured the country extensively for over five years reaching 25 states as a traveling celebrity chef for Readers Digest's Taste of Home Cooking School where he taught in front of live audiences in 165 shows to sold-out arenas from coast-to-coast.

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Inspired by his travels, Michael is continually developing fresh concepts and evolving as a chef and educator, both adapting to and impacting the culinary world around him. 

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Lastly, Chef Michael is a Culinary Hand Model and SAG member for over 30 years represented by Expressions Modeling Agency in Philadelphia. He has appeared in numerous National commercials, print work, billboards, industrial videos, live event promotions and movies. Yes, he was that hand model doubling for Mel Gibson’s hands chopping the alien’s fingers off in the 2002 M. Knight Shyamalan thriller “Signs”… of course, a chef's knife was involved!

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I hope you enjoy exploring the many services, recipes and menu options listed throughout this website. I’ve created foods ranging from gourmet plated dishes to every day regional comforts, delicious plant-inspired creations, delicate hors d’oeuvres and spectacular party platters realized from my many years in the industry that can be recreated in your home, office or stage.

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  • Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from CIA (Culinary Institute of America)

  • Certified Food Safety Trainer- National Restaurant Association , License TE20262709

  • Graduated from ROUXBE-Forks over Knives completing 179 course/ 60 hour interactive plant based food course

  • 18 Food Service Management classes through MEA

  • Allergen Awareness Training – National Restaurant Association, License 612219

  • Serve Safe Manager Trainer Certificate- Sodexo Service Trainer

  • Food Service Management Courses, Cornell University, in home studies

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Television Appearances include:

  • Good Morning Arkansas

  • KBS/WDK Cape Girardeau, MO.

  • KNOE 8 News Monroe, La.

  • NBC / ABC / CBS / FOX

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Commercials:

  • Proctor & Gamble Productions- Crisco Oil

  • Lancaster Brand Meats- Acme Markets, Inc.

  • Mushroom Council- Kennett Square

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Live Event/Promotions:

  • Principal in 150+, 2.5 hour live cooking events for Readers Digest-Taste of Home Productions

  • Head Instructor teaching over 60 classes at Zagara’s Cooking School and Lifestyle Center, Mt. Laurel, NJ.

  • Gifted for numerous private residence, special occasion cooking classes throughout the Tri state area

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