The Accidental Chef

This is the story of a man who took almost a lifetime to realize that the accidentals of his first fifty years were really the essentials he needed to blossom as a happy, productive chef who enjoys what he does, how he does it, and how he brings enjoyment to others. Some of Joseph's early journey is recounted at the beginning of the book, tales from the ovens of both his mother and his maternal grandparents. Some stories from later years tell of his ongoing love affair with cooking, intermingled with stories of friends, travel and career changes. Still others are serious and soul searching. The man who describes himself as "chubby" since childhood shares recipes remembered and recreated from comfort foods enjoyed by family, to those of Billy, his first restaurateur boss, to those enjoyed in New York, to those amazing traditional dishes of Matilde, a woman he met in Italy. Joseph Caputo has enjoyed a lifetime of family, educational, and theatrical experiences. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he was educated in parochial schools, and went on to earn a degree in Communications from Marywood College in Scranton, and a Master's Degree in Theatre from the State University of New York. Joseph has combined his passion for food, storytelling, and theatre into a recipe for success. Spending countless hours in the kitchen of his boyhood home, and in exceptionally fine restaurants in New York City and worldwide have helped him to develop a unique culinary style. Blessed with keen perception as to which ingredients created the great dishes he enjoyed, he most often came home with a recipe all his own, and more spectacular than the original. Today he is chef/owner of two successful businesses Catering by Joseph LTD, and Zuppa del Giorno, il ristorante di pranzo, both located in Scranton.

In this funny, frank, and tender memoir, much-loved Ottawa chef Caroline Ishii recounts how she opened the first vegan fine dining restaurant in Canada - and then, eventually, left it. Born in Toronto to Japanese parents, Caroline learns early to love humble food like daikon pickles and rich mushrooms. So when she decides years later to become a chef, a career switch that is part naïve and part completely inspired, it is early food memories that she mines for encouragement. What unfolds is unexpected and inspiring. Caroline holds vegan pop-up dinners that land an internationally syndicated documentary-reality television show, The Restaurant Adventures of Caroline and Dave, and garner wide support for her restaurant-to-be, ZenKitchen. Together with her community, she raises funds, guts and renovates a space in Ottawa's Chinatown, develops a menu, hires staff, passes inspections, and dodges cameras throughout it all. Part cookbook, part biography, part industry tell-all, each vignette in this memoir is framed as a food memory and accompanied by a recipe for simple, delicious, mostly plant-based fare. The Accidental Chef is a moving and honest account of one woman growing up and into herself. A series of short, compelling narratives traverse Canadian geographies (Vancouver Island, Toronto, Ottawa) as well as international locales from Caroline's yoga and food experiences: San Francisco, New York, and Massachusetts, her extensive travels in Japan, and her time spent as a relief worker in Russia and the Ukraine. This is a cosmopolitan story of the way that food defines memories, losses, accomplishments, and sense of self. Ishii's position as a Japanese-Canadian woman frames The Accidental Chef and lends freshness and insight to personal reflections on childhood, family life, education, entrepreneurship, and, of course, food culture. Sarah Brown, Former Editor, Ottawa Magazine Part memoir, part cookbook, The Accidental Chef is a beautifully crafted chronicle of Chef Caroline Ishii's life journey from rebellious Japanese-Canadian schoolgirl to celebrated vegan chef. Each chapter relates a pivotal moment in that voyage and ends with a recipe - a taste memory that serves as a touchstone Ishii identifies with a key mentor or major event from her past. In one chapter the author focuses on kokoro, a Japanese word used to describe something that comes from the heart. The Accidental Chef embodies kokoro - a generous guide and recipe journal offered with love. Peter Hum, Food Editor, Ottawa Citizen Caroline's life story confirms what you instinctively knew if you'd eaten her delicious and innovative vegan dishes - she's a positive, principled, thoughtful person who gives the best of herself for those around her, be they family, friends or customers. This is an uplifting read - and one you'll event want to cook from. Sachiko Okuda, National Association of Japanese Canadians, Ottawa Japanese Community Association Ishii's style is fresh, insightful and always genuine... the vegan-curious will learn how to create, in their own kitchens, some of Ishii's favourite dishes and desserts. Japanese Canadians will relate to the comfort of ochazuke. And all readers will be nourished, replenished, and motivated to boldly seek out the true flavours of their lives. Chef Brad Long, Chef-Owner, Café Belong at Evergreen Brick Works, and co-host of the Food Network's Restaurant Makeover I love the way Caroline shares deep, personal stories with a quick flit of words and, boom, there's a lesson and a path. I will be trying Caroline's recipes for exactly the reasons she writes about them: to share with my family, to make and eat them together. Jeff Brown, author of Soulshaping and An Uncommon Bond A heartfelt, helpful and healing book. Highly recommended!

Accidental Chef is a sobering account of what it's really like to be a professional chef, not the glamorized, sugar-coated depictions we see on cable television. This book offers a glimpse of what it really like to work in a hotel patry shop and a busy restaurant. When you read Accidental Chef you can't help feeling that you right there with Charles in the kitchen. Through his vivid descriptions you'll be able to imagine the sights, sounds and smells of a real kitchen. Accidental Chef puts a real face on the hospitality industry in America. Charles reveals many of the unsavory aspects of the hotel and restaurant business. For example, he relates true life stories about how our food supply isn't always as sanitary as we might believe. You'll get an idea of just how prevalent drug abuse and sex are in the food world. Through Accidental Chef, Charles also shares some of stories of the colorful characters he's worked with thoughout his long career. He illusrtates how professioanl cooking attracts a variety of characters. Charles introduces you to some of the bizarre people he's worked with. In his own words, Charles gives us the captivating story of how he abandoned a prosperous career in hospital adminstration to become a chef in New Orleans. It's an inspiring story for those who are disenchanted with their career, but are afraid of the risks of a career transition. Above all, Charles reveals the irrepressable determination and genuine love of cooking that made his success possible.

Accidental Chef is a sobering account of what it's really like to be a professional chef, not the glamorized, sugar-coated depictions we see on cable television. This book offers a glimpse of what it really like to work in a hotel patry shop and a busy restaurant. When you read Accidental Chef you can't help feeling that you right there with Charles in the kitchen. Through his vivid descriptions you'll be able to imagine the sights, sounds and smells of a real kitchen. Accidental Chef puts a real face on the hospitality industry in America. Charles reveals many of the unsavory aspects of the hotel and restaurant business. For example, he relates true life stories about how our food supply isn't always as sanitary as we might believe. You'll get an idea of just how prevalent drug abuse and sex are in the food world. Through Accidental Chef, Charles also shares some of stories of the colorful characters he's worked with thoughout his long career. He illusrtates how professioanl cooking attracts a variety of characters. Charles introduces you to some of the bizarre people he's worked with. In his own words, Charles gives us the captivating story of how he abandoned a prosperous career in hospital adminstration to become a chef in New Orleans. It's an inspiring story for those who are disenchanted with their career, but are afraid of the risks of a career transition. Above all, Charles reveals the irrepressable determination and genuine love of cooking that made his success possible.

Features profiles of 23 of Neale Whitaker's food heroes from Britain and Australia - chefs, cooks, food writers and restaurateurs, based on personal interviews, with each subject providing four recipes that they feel are representative of their own style and food interests, or simply a personal favourite.

Deliciously simple, meat-free recipes from 'Something For The Weekend' presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Simon Rimmer.