Meet the cooking, foodstuff pros judging this year's Cook of the Week Challenge
The judges for the first two matchups in the Cook of the Week Challenge were Penny Kazmier, 2011 Challenge winner; Maggie Ziph from NOW Foods; Rich Kator from Flower Wagon Nursery; Michael Pennisi, 2012 Challenge winner; Angela Dennison from Whole Foods Market, Naperville and Rachel Kunst-Curotto from AMITA Health.
Let's meet the judges for the 2015 Daily Herald Cook of the Week Challenge.
Four past winners of the Daily Herald's Cook of the Week Challenge will work the other side of the 2015 competition serving as judges. They are Jamie Andrade, Daniel Rich, Michael Pennisi, and Penny Kazmier.
This panel of judges will review recipes from sixteen contestants vying in the bracket-style, one-on-one recipe competition. Each cook, supplied with a mystery basket of secret ingredients they will need to develop into an original recipe, will have to woo the judges.
“The point is to make people rethink how a particular ingredient could be used, but the recipe needs to make sense,” said Jamie Andrade, 2014 Cook of the Week Winner.
The judges will select one winner from each challenge based on use of ingredients, creativity, and perceived taste and appearance.
“I'd like the winning contestant to demonstrate a command of basic techniques and flavors,” said 2012 Cook of the Week Winner, Michael Pennisi.
Four finalists will compete in a live cook-off November 2 at the Westin in Itasca. The winner chosen by the judges will receive a prize package worth over $1500.
Michael Pennisi, of Carpentersville was the 2012 Cook of the Week Winner. A physics teacher at Schaumburg High School. His winning dish was sautéed salmon over pureed sweet potatoes with Brussels sprouts slaw.
Family: My wife, Christy and my dog, Elwood
Culinary training: I've taken a few recreational cooking classes, but that's it.
Cooking experience/background: I started cooking in grade school by making cookies, and moved on to breakfast items and could make a few dinners by the end of high school. My expertise is in making pizza and smoke cooking.
Interesting cooking story/fact: When I was a freshman in college, I high jacked the communal kitchen for an entire Sunday and made a full lasagna dinner with salad and garlic bread, and dessert for my friends. I had to take a bus to the grocery store the day before to buy everything. I gained a new appreciation for the effort involved in a big meal.
Any culinary highlights? Besides winning the Cook of the Week competition, in Italy I had the chance to make pizza in an outdoor wood-burning pizza oven that was halfway up the side of a mountain. The view was spectacular. The hospitality of the family we stayed with was overwhelming. The pizza was life changing, no exaggeration.
What are you looking for in the winning contestant? The ingredients and rules in this competition tend to be complex. So to me, synthesizing that complexity into a recipe accessible to home cooks is where the challenge lies.
Jamie Andrade of Elk Grove Village was the 2014 Cook of the Week Winner. Her winning dish? Cornmeal-dusted sturgeon with sweet potato pumpkin puree topped with a whiskey orange brown butter sauce. She learned all about cooking for her family through experimentation — no formal training. She works in logistics. “My dad's family used to own a pizza shop years and years ago so when I was little we did make your own pizza nights. We'd make the dough; make the sauce and everything else.” What she's looking for in the winning contestant? “I'm looking for someone who has a good use of the ingredients and makes them work cohesively. I want to see the contestants put up a solid dish that makes me think, ‘Hey, I've had a can of pumpkin in the pantry forever. I'm going to try this one.'”
Daniel Rich of Elgin was the 2013 Cook of the Week winner. His winning dish was sautéed chicken breast stuffed with Israeli couscous and covered in a wild mushroom sauce, creamed peas with sage, and a brûlée fruit compote with rosemary Muzzie. “It was the Muzzie that won it,” he said.
Rich works for the city of Elgin, 21 years, part of the Citizen Services Team of the City Manager's Office. He says his culinary training consists of lots of Food Network, and a whole bunch of trial and error at home. What he's looking for in the winning contestant? Simple-Love of food-Honesty-Depth I am looking for an understanding of what they're doing and a bit of flash and flair.
Penny Kazmier of South Barrington was the 2011 Cook of the Week winner, the first year of the contest. Her winning dish was stuffed pork tenderloin with root beer adobo glaze, sweet potato hash and cranberry chutney. She's been married to husband, John, for 31 years and they have four children. ”I love taking cooking classes and have attended more than I can count. The topics included international cuisine and specific cooking techniques like braising and even molecular gastronomy.” What she's looking for in the winning contestant? “The winning contestant should be someone who loves food and is able to think like a scientist creating something with the right balance.”
Mario O. Portanova
Director, Porte Brown LLC
Throughout his 32 years in the accounting and tax profession, Portanova has specialized in the grocery and restaurant industry providing valuable counsel for his numerous clients. As a director at Porte Brown LLC in Elk Grove Village, his experience and interpersonal savvy allow him to go beyond the basic accounting services. Portanova grew up in Chicago working in the grocery and restaurant industry and attended DePaul University where he received his bachelor's in accounting. He lives in the Chicago area with his family.
Jimmy Nicolau
Director of Midwest Sales, Grecian Delight Foods
Jimmy Nicolau is no stranger to the culinary world. His culinary background stems back to his childhood. His family was in the restaurant business and his father was an executive chef at several top eating spots in Chicago. While Jimmy didn't follow directly in his father's footsteps, he did acquire the love and appreciation for amazing food. Jimmy earned a business degree from Harper College where he also played football and has done culinary coursework at Kendall College.
With more than 20 years at Grecian Delight Foods, Jimmy has served in a variety of sales roles, as well as the role of corporate trainer. He currently acts as the Director of Midwest Sales for the family owned and operated Greek food manufacturer. One aspect he loves about his job is working with food service customers on menu ideation.
Today, Jimmy enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife, Paula and their three children. One of his favorite meals to make at home is Christmas brunch, which has turned into an event with three different feedings.
Chef Maggie Ziph
R&D Culinary Specialist and Recipe Developer, NOW® Foods
Chef Maggie Ziph joined the NOW® Foods Culinary Innovation Team in June 2014 to drive the development of innovative and delicious recipes utilizing NOW Foods natural and organic products. Her talent for cooking is matched only by her passion and commitment to helping people live healthier lives through food.
Prior to joining the NOW team, Chef Ziph obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University and an Associate Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from Le Cordon Bleu. In her short time at NOW, Chef Ziph has developed a strong portfolio of recipes in the natural, healthy, gluten-free and sugar-free categories, and they're all dishes that any home cook can recreate.
Kimberley Stakal
Associate Marketing and Community Relations Specialist, Whole Foods Market, Schaumburg
Kimberley Stakal is the Associate Marketing and Community Relations Specialist at Whole Foods Market at the Schaumburg location.
Kimberley has worked in food and communications ever since receiving a culinary degree in 2007 at the Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC. She has been a food writer, recipe developer, cookbook editor, and food educator, and she is thrilled to be helping judge this year's Cook of the Week Challenge.
Donna Johnson
Owner of Don's Dock restaurant, Des Plaines
Donna is also a seasoned traveler, having spent the past 10 years exploring countries around the world. These excursions have introduced her to new foods and culinary techniques, her favorites of which she has brought home to her family and her seafood restaurant. She can't wait for her next adventure, where she will tour Italy and discover the joys of pasta.
Rich Kator
Owner, The Flower Wagon Garden Center and Nursery, South Elgin
Rich Kator owns and operates The Flower Wagon Garden Center and Nursery in South Elgin. Rich previously managed the garden center and nursery for Frank's Nursery & Crafts and a variety of local independent garden centers. Rich has been in the industry for over 24 years and has taken horticulture coursework at the College of DuPage and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Rich's lifelong dream was to own a garden center and nursery and he was able to make that come true in 2011. The Flower Wagon, originally a carnation grower, has developed into a retail garden center and nursery. Today, Rich, his dad, uncle, and a variety of family and friends who help with the business operate The Flower Wagon. On the weekends, you might catch Rich's two young children on the grounds visiting dad.
Michael Bach
Wine Manager, Binny's Beverage Depot, Arlington Heights
Michael Bach, the wine manager for Binny's Beverage Depot in Arlington Heights, has been with the company for seven years. Food and wine is his life's passion fueled with extensive travel throughout the world and supplemented with a formal sommelier education from The International Sommelier Guild, and the Court of Master Sommeliers. Michael holds a winemaking degree from UC Davis. He strives to enjoy every day and always expand his palate.
Chef Rachel Kunst-Curotto
Chef Manager, AMITA Heath Corporate Office, Arlington Heights
Rachael Kunst-Curotto is the Chef Manager for AMITA Health Corporate Office in Arlington Heights. Rachael studied culinary arts at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute in Chicago, part of Le Cordon Bleu. She believes in a healthy and creative approach to her cooking and enjoys sharing that with others. When not in the kitchen, Rachael enjoys running, going to concerts and spending time with her family.
Carey M. Lynch
General Sales Manager, Marquardt of Barrington
Carey Lynch knows the importance of good customer service. She was once a customer herself, which is how she ended up working in the field. In 1999, Lynch, who owned a hair salon at the time, was in the market for a car. Unhappy with how she was treated at other dealerships, she walked into a dealership in Elgin and found the car she wanted. Impressed with her knowledge and moxie, she was offered a part-time sales position on the spot. Over time, Lynch went to work at other dealerships and later enrolled into the minority dealership program in GM in hopes of landing her own dealership. She was the General Manager of Woody Buick GMC in Elgin for 10 years until the Elgin location closed in June of 2013. She brought her staff and the clientele from Elgin to Marquardt of Barrington where she is the current General Sales Manager.
Mike Burton
General Manager, Westin Chicago Northwest
Mike Burton has been General Manager of the Westin Chicago Northwest since June 2015. Since Mike's arrival, the hotel has begun planning for a multimillion dollar renovation that will begin in November of this year. Mike is relocating to the northwest suburbs from Dallas, Texas, where he was hotel manager of a 1,840-guest room Sheraton with 230,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Prior to the Sheraton, Mike was at the Westin Galleria as Director of Operations overseeing a major renovation, which resulted in the hotel being named, “Westin Hotel of the Year.”
Mike's career started in culinary, where he held a chef's position at Gina's by the Sea in Cape Cod, MA. Today, Mike holds degrees in both Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. Mike will be living in St. Charles with his wife and four children. Born in Michigan, he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and friends in Grand Rapids. In his free time, you will find him in the great outdoors, sharing quality time with the loves of his life, his wife, Lisa, daughters Victoria and Virginia, and sons Clint and Conrad.
Massimo Gaffo
Corporate Chef, R&D, Ala Carte Entertainment
Born in Rome, Italy, Massimo Gaffo joined the team of Ala Carte Entertainment in 2014 as Corporate Chef, R&D. The 44-year-old Palatine resident remembers working in the kitchen back home with his nonna and mom making fresh pasta. His culinary philosophy is working with fresh ingredients to create tasteful cuisine.
Massimo has served as a Certified ServSafe Instructor and Registered ServSafe Examination Proctor for the National Restaurant Association since 2014, serving his community as an instructor to train and educate restaurant industry associates on sanitation requirements required by the state of Illinois. Chef Gaffo's interaction with guests sets him apart from other chefs, as he loves to involve the people he serves in the creativity of his food.
John Engle
President and CEO, King Oscar, Inc.
John Engle is President and CEO of King Oscar, Inc., a manufacturer of brisling sardines and the #1 selling sardine in the United States, as well as a growing line of premium-canned seafood including skinless and boneless sardines, kipper snacks, anchovies, and mackerel fillets. He is a 30-year veteran of the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, where he has held a variety of executive positions with industry heavyweights such as General Mills, Schering-Plough, and Bumble Bee Foods.
John is best known for his passionate approach to product innovation and for his unwavering commitment to the development and execution of strategic business practices that result in long-term profitable sales growth. Engle has a BS in Business Management and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He resides in San Diego, California with his wife of 25 years, Janet, and their two sardine-loving children.
Jennifer Plonka
Prepared Foods Team Leader, Whole Foods Market, Wheaton
Jen is the Prepared Foods Team Leader at Whole Foods Market Wheaton. She attended Kendall College in Chicago and received a Certificate in Professional Cookery. She loves being creative in the kitchen as well as trying new and seasonal recipes.
Angela Dennison
Healthy Eating Specialist, Whole Foods Market, Naperville
Angela Dennison has eleven plus years in the natural and organic food industry. She has been the Healthy Eating Specialist with Whole Foods Market Naperville for three years with a special emphasis on plant strong diets. She loves different types of foods, inventive recipes and has an appreciation for all things culinary. Angela has a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Lisa Sanfilippo
Director of Business Development, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.
Sanfilippo was born and raised in the nut industry. Her family established John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., which is the parent company of Fisher Nuts. Lisa graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Communication. She has had a long-standing passion for cooking for her large and extended family and loves to experiment with different nuts as part of the culinary experience. Nuts are used in almost every meal she cooks for her family. Lisa currently serves as Director of Business Development at John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. and oversees the operation of the company's retail store, Fisher Nuts Store, in Elgin. In her free time, Lisa likes to spend time with her four children and ride horses.
Cindy Adams
Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Adams is the owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes Mt. Prospect. A native of Wheaton for 24 years, she had her first bite of the scrumptious cake in 2013 and knew she had to be a part of the brand. Within three months, Adams quit her job and sold her house to be a proud owner of a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise. Her bakery has been open for just over a year and she couldn't be prouder of her team!
Joanna Miller
Director of Business Development, America's Baking and Sweets Show
Joanna Miller's career has blossomed being part of America's Baking and Sweets Show the last three years. As the Director of Business Development at ABSS, Joanna has taken her passion to another level. She truly loves working on the show with sponsors and exhibitors and has become a knowledgeable leader and authority in the industry. The successful 2013 & 2014 shows are a reflection of her hard work and dedication.
Additionally, her long-standing passion for baking served to influence her decision to join ABSS. Her sweet tooth was inherited by her husband and two children, who share her cravings for baked and sweet products. Together, they've invested many evenings watching baking and cooking shows on television and baking together as a family.
Lauren Blumer
2015-2016 Green County Dairy Queen
Lauren Blumer is the 2015-2016 Green County Dairy Queen. Along with her parents, Trent and Krishell and her brother Evan, she lives on Plainview Stock Farm, a fourth generation family farm located just outside of Albany. As a junior at Albany High School Country, Lauren is a member of the track, cross-country and forensics teams and is involved with choir, musicals, quiz bowl, and FFA. She enjoys spending time with family, helping on the farm, playing piano, and traveling. Lauren has a passion for the agricultural industry, having grown up watching her father, grandfather and great-grandfather put their heart and soul into a farm, which currently has a herd of about 2,000 heifers and 3,000 acres of cropland. She is also a part owner of a branch of family's business called Udderly Swiss LLC where she assists with milking 40 cows and other farm chores. Lauren's goal is to major in pre-med in college and become a doctor.
Mike Coughlan
Owner/operator, Village Tavern and Grill, Carol Stream
Mike Coughlan is the owner/operator of the Village Tavern and Grill of Carol Stream. Mike was raised in the Boston area and had the fortunate experience to be tutored by the late Chef Arthur DiAgastino. Mike headed west to pursue his two passions of cooking and skiing. He ended up in Breckenridge, Colorado as the sous-chef at the Breckenridge Inn and Resort. After several years, Coughlan perused an opportunity in Houston with TGI Friday's. While in Houston, he also spent time with The Four Season's Hotel and a casual theme restaurant chain. He eventually moved on to San Antonio, Texas where he teamed up with Walter Payton's Entertainment One Group, which led him to Chicago. After seven years he went out on his own and opened the first Village Tavern and Grill with a partner in Schaumburg. Village Tavern and Grill, Carol Stream, followed along with Pilot Pete's in Schaumburg and Village Grill and Tavern in Buffalo Grove. Mike now has no partners and is the sole operator of VTG, Carol Stream. Mike's philosophy is fresh food, good service, and big portions in a friendly, clean environment. He also is pro community and believes in giving back locally. This is evident with local sports teams and his Eat Out 2 Help Out program. Mike resides in the area with a wife and two daughters.
Joseph C. Graziano, Sr
Founder, Terri Lynn, Inc
Joseph C. Graziano, Sr. is the founder of Terri Lynn, Inc. A 1952 graduate of Valparaiso University, Joe has spent his life in the family nut business started by his father in 1932. Today, Joe brings over 60 years of experience in the nut and snack industry. Together with his daughter Terri Lynn, Joe shares a passion that has grown the business to over 150 employees and thousands of customers from major retailers, ice cream, bakery, and produce companies, to fundraising clubs and schools worldwide. Terri Lynn's facility is located in Elgin, and serves the public in their factory outlet year round.
Donna Johnson
Owner/operator, Don's Dock
Donna is an owner and operator of Don's Dock, a family run seafood restaurant in Des Plaines. She is also a seasoned traveler, having spent the past 10 years exploring countries around the world. These excursions have introduced Donna to new foods and culinary techniques, her favorites of which she has brought home to her family and restaurant. She can't wait for her next adventure, where she will tour Italy and discover the joys of pasta.