JANUARY 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 59 TASTE THE GREATS
FESTIVAL HEATS UP
better the company of people who
have a natural appreciation for good
food, good wine, and life in general.
Mirabelle Tavern is located at 150
Main St. in Stony Brook. It can be
reach at 631-751-0555 or lessings.com
Sandbar is located at 55 Main St. in
Cold Spring Harbor. It can be reached
at 631-498-6188 or lessings.com
Chef Andrew Minitelli, Osteria
Morini in Garden City
What drew you to a career in the
kitchen? I worked in my uncle’s
pizzeria while growing up. I worked
there during middle school, high
school, college, and culinary school.
It was my first experience in a kitchen
and set the foundation for my life and
career going forward.
How would you define your cooking
style? I would describe my cooking
style as grandma’s kitchen with
elevated ingredients.
What dish do you enjoy preparing
most and why? At the moment the
dish I enjoy preparing the most is
scrambled eggs and bacon because
it means I've got a day off and I'm
cooking breakfast at home for my
girlfriend.
What’s your favorite food-related
memory? The first one is a general
memory of my uncle’s pizzeria,
growing up in a family business
working alongside my uncle and
aunt, my grandparents, my cousins,
my siblings. It was a great way to
be introduced to the world of food
and restaurants. Second would be
remembering the feeling I got after
one of my dishes was on a Micheal
White Menu for the first time. I was
working in Osteria Morini Soho after
going to culinary school and leaving
New Jersey for Manhattan. I started
as a garde manger pantry cook and
worked my way up to a point where
I could contribute to the menu. The
feeling of pride and accomplishment
was overwhelming.
Are there any misconceptions
among foodies that you’d like to
clarify? I never really understood
what foodie means. Is it a derisive
term? Everyone has different tastes
and opinions when it comes to food.
I like to experience as many new
things as possible and incorporate
that into my cooking if I can.
Osteria Morini is located at 630
Old Country Rd. in Garden City. It
can be reached at 516-604-0870 or
osteriamorini.com
Chef Craig Attwood, Five Ocean
Bar & Grill in Long Beach
What drew you to a career in the
kitchen? I started cooking as a child
with my neighbor. She would make
recipes from Bon Appetit. Then
I started working in local Italian
restaurants at 13. I was washing
dishes and prepping. I loved the excitement
and speed of service.
How would you define your cooking
style? My cooking style is somewhat
seasonal. I like bold flavors with clean
flavors. Finished with salt and acid.
What dish do you enjoy preparing
most? I love braising meats in the fall
like rabbit with fresh pasta, roasted
venison, and seasonal squash. In the
spring local asparagus, ramps wild
onions, local fluke, bass, summertime
tuna, and mahi. Also local tomatoes,
pickled ginger, white soy, rice
vinegar, cardamon. Roasted eggplant
with miso ginger with white soy.
What is your favorite food-related
memory? Participating in a Careers
Through Culinary Arts Program
event in honor of Thomas Keller. I
received a custom-engraved watch
with my name and a personal thank
you from Chef Keller himself.
Are there any misconceptions
among foodies that you'd like to clarify?
Please don’t refer to yourself as a
foodie. Most people who do these days
do not really enjoy all types of cuisine
and just throw that word out there.
Five Ocean Bar & Grill is located at
5 New York Avenue in Long Beach.
It can be reached at 516-517-2828 or
fiveoceanlongbeach.com
Chef Rob McCue, Granny's Ice
Cream and Frozen Yogurt in
Commack
What drew you to a career in the
kitchen? At an early age I was always
drawn to the kitchen. Watching my
mother prepare food all day in the
kitchen with her friends was so
comforting. They worked all day
together as a team. That’s how I approach
kitchens today: people first,
process second.
How would you describe your
cooking style? I would consider my
style of cuisine elevated comfort
American. I love the farm-to-table
approach and cook great local sustainable
farm-driven ingredients.
What dish do you enjoy making
the most? I am known for my slowbraised
short ribs. I love to cook this
dish as it takes on a complexity of its
own. From the sourcing of the meat
to searing and then braising low and
slow. I just love it!
What is your favorite food-related
memory? Cooking Irish soda bread
with my mother is one of my most
cherished and fondest food memories.
It’s what taught me patience
as a chef, and my mother taught me
patience through food. There were
many steps to achieving a great Irish
soda bread. I now cook this with my
4-year-old son and teach him the
same lesson.
Are there any misconceptions
among foodies you would like to
clarify? One of the most frustrating
things for me as a chef is to have people
tell me that eating organic means
healthier.
Granny's Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
is located at 1153 Jericho Tpke.
in Commack. It can be reached at
631-543-7501.
Taste the Greats - Long Island
will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at
Oheka Castle, 135 West Gate Dr.
in Huntington. Tickets are $100,
or $125 for VIP and afterparty access.
Tickets can be purchased at
TasteTheGreats.com
Chef Rob McCue.
Chef Andrew Minitelli.
Chef Craig Attwood.
Oheka Castle Sat March 14 8PM
/osteriamorini.com
/lessings.com
/lessings.com
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/fiveoceanlongbeach.com
/TasteTheGreats.com
