Meet the ChefI was born in Holland, Michigan, and found a passion for cooking when I was eight years old. My first experience in the kitchen involved a solo attempt at baking peanut butter cookies for my Dad. After enjoying limited success with the 11 inch cookies I produced, flavor was good though the size was a little off, I ventured into helping my Mom on Sundays with the noon meal and began to learn some of the basics of home cooking. I continued with cooking as a hobby while I worked in the family business of pouring cement walls. I then worked as a welder where I further enjoyed working with my hands and in an office as a commercial supervisor where I learned “people skills.” I then fell in love with cooking all over again and began thinking of it as more of a profession. I had the pleasure to work under great chefs at both the Holland Country Club and the prestige Freedom Village Senior Living Community. With my hunger for all things culinary, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, and worked under Executive Chef Marc Prichard as chef’s assistant at the Park Place Hotel. While there I met my wife, Elizabeth, who encouraged me to go to college. I attended the Great Lakes Culinary Institute in Traverse City, Michigan, graduating with highest honors and a degree in the culinary field of applied science. My wife, Beth, and I have moved to the beautiful county of Livingston and live between Brighton and Howell in Southeast lower Michigan. |
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Copyright 2009 Catfish Harley's Kitchen |
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