- I grew up an only child, have enjoyed all aspects of that, and I find that the amount of imaginary friends I have far surpasses my Facebook friends list.
- I am proud to have grown up on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA an Italian-American neighborhood steeped in history, some of my fondest food memories and life skills were formed.
- My least favorite request as a chef: “egg white omelet no oil, butter or pan spray”.
- My favorite culinary techniques are braising and stewing. “Stewing is an essential part of our cooking, and a good stew, to my mind, is about as an attractive dish as you can offer.” James Beard
- Favorite 70’s T.V. shows include Kojak, Sanford & Son, All in the Family and Barney Miller.
- My favorite comic book heroes were The Incredible Hulk and Night Crawler.
- I can recite verbatim RUN DMC’s “Sucka MC’s” from 1983 but I find it difficult to recall what I did yesterday.
- In 1990, after high school graduation I was supposed to pack a van with my lead guitarist and head to Los Angeles to be the next Motley Crue. Instead I listened to my father, ”Go to school for something you enjoy…anything”. I ended up at Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island) to study Culinary Arts graduating in 1992.
- 10 years later, in 2000, I ended up back at Johnson & Wales University’s newest campus in Denver, Colorado on the opposite end of the classroom… as someone now teaching culinary arts.
- I love tripe from:
- The Italian Kitchen: Shrewsbury St. Worcester,MA
- My gram Emma Ferraioulo
- Jenna Johansen
- My favorite carneceria/tacqueria taco: pig snout
- Favorite cut of pig: ears
- Favorite cut of lamb: neck or breast
- Favorite cut of beef: flat Iron/top blade steak and tri-tip
- Favorite poultry: chicken wings or thighs
- Favorite Salami:
- Vino e pepe nero from former Il Mondo Vecchio
- Calabrese soppresate from former Il Mondo Vecchio
- I enjoy cooking with my kids. At age 3 my daughter used to practice classic culinary knife cuts: julienne, batonette, brunioise, and macedoine with play-dough. “Tuck thumb behind fingers right, Dad?”
- As a kid in the 70’s I set up a DJ booth in my bedroom so I could be like Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati.
- My favorite Underroos were the yellow and green Aquaman set.
- I secretly enjoyed watching the one and only season ofAmerica’s Most Smartest Model with Ben Stein and Mary Alice Stephenson.
- What I miss the most about free time as a teenager: Fall bow hunting season
- I always wanted to trade my culinary spatula for a masonry trowel, my Nonno DeNittis used his highly sought after skills to support the growth of his family.
- I miss Sunday morning driving on a long dirt road to get spring water from a spigot with my Grampy Ferraioulo and his buddies Pete and Cougan!
- Most memorable food eaten with my dad: Venison burgers with Swiss cheese and French Dressing.
- Most memorable food memories with my mom: Late Friday afternoons Italian kitchen tripe in tomato sauce and Italian bread loaf.
I’ve been too nervous to try tripe. If you or Jenna made it for me I would.
Would love to have you try for the first time! Jenna’s tripe is out of this world. Talk about love, you know you’ve found a partner for life when they make tripe at least once a month for you…and more so when they share! Look for it as a special on the menu at the new Salumeria coming on South Pearl Street in Denver!
Thank you
Mark