Chef Interviews

Dima Martseniuk: Executive Chef at Veselka in East Village

Dima Martseniuk: Executive Chef at Veselka in East Village

Veselka is a beautiful restaurant in the East Village that has been serving traditional Ukrainian food since 1956. The matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage, and pierogis were a welcoming site after I trudged through the snowy New York city streets. After enjoying a...

Joey Bats Brings Portuguese “Pastéis De Natas” to New York

Joey Bats Brings Portuguese “Pastéis De Natas” to New York

If you know about Pastel De Nata, the popular pastry in Portugal, rejoice. If you don’t know about it, allow me to introduce Joey Bats Sweets. Joey does not consider himself a chef, but he speaks with the passion and knowledge of a chef. I sat down with the impresario...

John DeLucie is Sick of Kale

John DeLucie is Sick of Kale

For much of the past decade, John DeLucie has been New York City’s most sought-after chef. As founding chef and partner of The Waverly Inn, DeLucie and his take on classic American cuisine attracted both the celebrity crowd and serious food fans, who were wowed by his...

Diego Oka Wanted to Be a Dentist

Diego Oka Wanted to Be a Dentist

     Diego Oka is the Executive Chef at La Mar Miami. The Chefs Connection: Did you go to culinary school?  If so, where? Diego Oka: Yes, Institu Paul Bousse, USIL, Lima TCC: What restaurants have you worked at? DO: Ichi ban Japanesse Restaurant, La mar...

Chef Martin Schaub of Pilsener Haus

Chef Martin Schaub of Pilsener Haus

Chef Martin Schaub has been around the culinary block. Sometimes we don’t realize the expansive stories that these chef’s have. Chefs are not faceless robots just flipping burgers but evolving artists who are always learning and experiencing.

Matt Hinckley Falls Into Culinary Wormholes

Matt Hinckley Falls Into Culinary Wormholes

My favorite thing about being a chef is the diversity of talent found in every kitchen. I’ve worked alongside chefs who might be neurosurgeons or astrophysicists if not for their food passions.

Joe Murphy on Growing Up And Working in the Kitchen

Joe Murphy on Growing Up And Working in the Kitchen

“Dad, are you famous?” This question took executive pastry chef Joe Murphy by surprise when his son asked him one day recently. A disarmingly kind man, he sat with me to describe what influenced him growing up…