Chef Michael McDermott and The Kids' Cooking Network

As a graduate of Culinary Institute of America, Chef Michael McDermott has cooked for celebrities such as Jackie Onassis, Julia Child, Elizabeth Taylor and Malcom Forbes. His passion is to educate and empower kids and their families about nutrition and food.  He is the Founder/Executive Producer of The Kids’ Cooking Network™ TKCN LIVE is a FUN…

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Diana Davila: One of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs

Chef Diana Davila, Executive Chef and Owner of Mi Tocaya Antojeria,  was recently named one of the Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine magazine.   Her neighborhood Mexican restaurant is located in Logan Square in Chicago, and the meaning of its name even evokes the emotional connection between the guests and the…

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Iron Chef Stephanie Izard: A Culinary Trailblazer

Chef Stephanie Izard is a culinary trailblazer. She is the first female Iron Chef and the first female Top Chef and is a highly acclaimed restaurateur with her partners from Boka Restaurant Group.  Her Chicago restaurants include: Girl and the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck, Duck Goat And she will be opening up another Girl and the…

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A Culinary Celebration for My Father's 90th Birthday

As many of you know, the reason I host Kitchen Chat is to honor my late father, Dr. Claude H. Rhea, Jr. My dad was a Renaissance Man, a gourmet home chef, a world traveler, a lyric tenor who recorded an album with the Concert Orchestra of London, a college president, a scholar, a published author,…

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Sandra Gutierrez and The New Southern-Latino Table

“History happens on the plate,” says Sandra Gutierrez, cookbook author, food writer and culinary expert on the Southern-Latino food movement. Sandra and I met in the White House Garden during a tour with IACP.  She has become a dear friend and has  been an integral part of my culinary journey in understanding and appreciating the tastes…

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Eat Your Vegetables with Joe Yonan

As Food and Dining Editor of Washington Post, Joe Yonan has accomplished a lot in the culinary world.  At this year’s International Association of Culinary Professionals conference in Louisville, I had the delightful honor to have a kitchen chat with Joe Yonan about his latest projects. For years I have struggled in providing delicious meals…

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Food and Film: Hidden Figures

  Let’s celebrate the Oscars by pairing food and film.  This year, I am only making one dish for one movie.  I think Hidden Figures will be the movie that wins!   It’s such an inspiring and true story of Katherine Johnson, a brilliant NASA employee who “helped put an astronaut into orbit around the…

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Tasting New Orleans: Shaya

Mardi Gras is almost here.  Let’s continue tasting New Orleans!   What a delightful honor to interview the highly acclaimed Chef Alon Shaya at his modern Israeli restaurant, Shaya, which was awarded the 2016 James Beard Best New Restaurant of the Year.   Shaya’s menu features favorite dishes such as Lutenitsa, a Bulgarian puree of roasted…

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