Chef in New York, New York

Welcome to Sammy's Supper Club! Born and raised on the Upper West Side of NYC, I now reside in Brooklyn. I've always had a passion for cooking and entertaining. Since I was a kid I cooked with my Dad for family dinners and elaborate dinner parties. He was a Photo Journalist and fancied himself an amateur chef. For my 10th birthday, he got me every episode of Cooking With Julia Child instead of a baseball mitt. So from the time I was young I had a passion for cooking and making people happy with my food. I've always loved rich and decadent french classics, having travelled to France frequently, I have many early food memories of flambé desserts and lemon, butter, parsley, garlic sauces. After attending French Culinary Institute and then lucking into a position on the opening team at Momofuku Ssam Bar, I discovered my passion for Asian ingredients and technique. I learned from Chefs David Chang, Tien Ho and Joaquin Baca how well French and Asian cuisine pair together. I also learned about the balance of flavors and not overcomplicating dishes. Sometimes less is more. After 5 years of cooking under NYC restaurant chefs and 14 years of running my own restaurant/bars in Brooklyn, I would definitely classify my style as New American with very classic technique. I love raw fish, crudos and ceviches. I love fresh pasta. I love fresh herbs, anything pickled and salads with bright acidic vinaigrettes. My favorite entree to cook and eat is duck, in many different styles. I also love shellfish and caviar, hot or cold. As I have gotten older, wiser, more open minded and had to worry more about eating healthy, I've refined my decadent style to be cleaner and lighter. As mentioned before, balance is everything. I am very comfortable cooking healthier and lighter versions of classics and also cooking vegetarian or vegan without compromising flavor or soul in a dish. I offer coursed meals, cooked and served in your home, weekly drop-off options, or catering for large parties. Just let me know what you need!