Chandra Corwin of Cucina Biazzi
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. Seldovia, Alaska
Q. Did you eat your veggies? ;-)
A. Almost all. I loved salad, we had one every night. The only thing I didn't like was steamed spinach.
Q. When did you know you wanted to be a chef?
A. When I was 21 and Beasy McMillan offered me the position as head chef at the Hong Kong Bar.
Q. What is your favourite food memory?
A. That's a hard one...I have so many. One of them would have to be my dad coming home from his fishing trips, and sometimes he would walk in the house with a huge garbage bag full of live crab. We would cook them that night, put newspaper all over the table and chow down. It was sooooo good.
Q. Where were you trained and how difficult was your training?
A. I was not classically trained. I began cooking in restaurants when I was 16 and have been learning ever since.
Q. How do you get your inspiration?
A. Cookbooks, cooking magazines and eating at really amazing restaurants.
Q. Favourite kitchen equipment or gadget?
A. Honestly I couldn't live without tongs.
Q. Best piece of advice you would give a home enthusiast?
A. Fresh local ingredients are the best whether from a farmer's market or from your own garden.
Q. Best cooking tip for a novice just getting into the business?
A. Just remember cooking is fun
Q. Who in the food world do you most admire?
A. Alice Waters
Q. Favourite foods to cook with?
A. Pork (bacon and sausage especially), onion and garlic, ribeye, mushrooms, and scallops.
Q. Do you have a favourite wine?
A. Pinot Grigio
Q. What do you like to eat when you’re at home?
A. Steaks and sandwiches.
Q. Are there any foods you just don't like?
A. I hate that I don't like it because I want to....goat cheese.
Q. Favourite cookbooks?
A. Marcella Hazen, Williams Sonoma Savoring edtions and Joy of Cooking
Q. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
A. Owning my own restaurant.
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. I love to cook and entertain for friends. Watching the Cubs.
Q. What do you most love about your job?
A. The creativity and freedom.
Q. If you had just one wish, what would it be?
A. To have my own restaurant.
