Cook of the Year: Tony Casciano of Naperville

Tony Casciano's dream for 2009 is to have more dinner parties with friends and family.

Considering he already does a lot of that, the statement speaks volumes about the retired salesman and chief cook at his Naperville home.

Time spent cooking for - and with - the people he loves most is one of the greatest pleasures of his life.

"We just like to have people around us," he says.

Today he gives us a great party dish for a hot New Year: Garlic Fest Chili.

"I made 15 pounds for my son's engagement party and within half an hour, it was all gone," he says.

Better double that recipe next time, Tony.

Best meal I cooked in 2008: Seafood ravioli with lobster cream sauce.

Best ingredient discovery 2008: Different varieties of mushrooms, like porcini, morels and shitakes.

Favorite kitchen tool: Kershaw Shun knives. Every good cook needs the best knives.

Best culinary experience 2008: In early September I prepared the engagement party for my son and his fiancé at our home for 75 people.

Funniest cooking experience 2008: During the video shoot for Cook of the Week I spilled some sauce for the scallops into the frying pan and a flame shot up like I was doing flambé. That was exciting!

Best recipe source 2008: America's Test Kitchen (WTTW-Channel 11); how to slow-roast beef short ribs in a slow cooker.

Best restaurant meal 2008: Kurobuta pork chop at Glen Oaks Country Club (Glen Ellyn).

Culinary goal for 2009: Learn to make new sauces for meats, fowl and seafood.

About this recipe: Garlic Fest Chili. It is from an annual Garlic Fest party I used to hold. The chili was a late-night snack after the dancing and music settled down.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Recipe</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=261001">Garlic Fest Chili </a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=14&type=video&item=26">Tony Casciano preparing garlic fest chili</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>