MANILA, Philippines - Who is the American celebrity chef best known for his Louisiana cuisine and has contributed several recipes to the meal selection aboard the International Space Station as part of general NASA efforts to improve the quality of food supply for astronauts?
He was born on Oct. 15, 1959 in Fall River, Massachusetts, to a French-Canadian father and Portuguese mother. He developed a penchant for cooking while working at a local Portuguese bakery, enrolled in a culinary arts program in high school, and trained at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he graduated in 1978.
In 1982, he replaced Paul Prudhomme as executive chef of the famed New Orleans restaurant Commander’s Place, where he received rave reviews. In 1990, he opened his first restaurant, also in New Orleans, which was named Restaurant of the Year by Esquire.
Known for his emphasis on Creole and Cajun cooking styles, he calls his cuisine New New Orleans. He describes it as using local Louisiana ingredients in new and different ways. He now has his own chain of restaurants across the country — self-named restaurants in Orlando, Miami Beach, New Orleans, and MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
His other restaurants celebrate different cuisines — Tchoup-Chop in Orlando is Pan-Asian, Gulf Coast Fish House at the Island View Casino in Mississippi is famous for its seafood, while Delmonico at The Venetian in Las Vegas is a steakhouse with a southern flair.
His first television appearance was on Great Chef, after which he hosted his own show, Essence, which refers to the spice blend of his own concoction which he frequently uses in his cooking and is commercially available in several flavors. He has often suggested that viewers of his show create their own spice blends that reflect their personal tastes and be unafraid to customize the dishes he would teach.
Nominated eight times for a Daytime Emmy Award for his Food Network shows, he is currently hosting a new daily series on Discovery Channel’s new eco lifestyle network, Planet Green. These are filmed on location at Whole Foods Markets across the United States.
On television, he is known for his light and jovial hosting style as well as several catch phrases including “Bam!” and “Kick it up a notch.”
He has written several best-selling cookbooks beginning with his New New Orleans Cooking in 1993. Others include Real and Rustic, Creole Christmas, TV Dinners, Every Day’s a Party, There’s a Chef in My Soup: Recipes for the Kid in Everyone, Potluck: Comfort Food with a Kicked Up Attitude, Delmonico: A Restaurant with a Past, A Grilling Book for All Seasons, and 20-40-60: Fresh Food Fast.
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Last week’s question: Who is the American architect who is a pioneer in the field of industrial design? He not only designed the iconic interiors of Radio City Music Hall in New York City, but also some of the world’s most recognizable household product packaging like for Crest toothpaste and the Tide bulls-eye?
Answer: Donald Deskey
Winner: Jermaine Cortez of Cainta
Text your answer to 0926-3508061 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. They can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.