published in the journal inquirer

Steve Starger wrote an article published in the Manchester Journal Inquirer about Chef Maria's approach to Italian cooking. Chef Maria offers a personal chef service to clients, as well as a dietary chef service to individuals consulting with a doctor or dietitian.

how does a personal chef service work?

As your personal chef, I will work with you to build a complete menu for you and your family which takes into account your preferences or dietary requirements. We will then arrange a convenient time for me to come and prepare your menu in your home.

Hassle-free convenience is the point of a personal chef service. All items are prepared using ingredients, pots, utensils and equipment that I will bring with me - the only things required from you will be a sink; a range; a stove with broiler; a refrigerator with sufficient free space for the food prepared; and some cleared-off counter space.

Once preparation is complete, your kitchen will be cleaned and left just as it was found. Your selections will be prepared, packaged and labeled, and refrigerated. Any dishes requiring extra preparations or warming-up will be listed on an instruction sheet.

convenience

Personal chef services are ideal for individuals and families that appreciate gourmet cooking on a daily basis. Convenience is one of the most appealing aspects of a personal chef service - most people are too busy to prepare healthy, nourishing and satisfying dishes during the work week. Many people resort to convenience food, restaurants, microwaveable items - whatever fits into their busy schedules. As your personal chef, I can help provide you and your family with a wide assortment of entrees, side dishes and treats for daily meals.

low-fat and low-carb selections

As your personal chef, I can prepare delicious low-fat and low-carbohydrate meals that go far beyond what you can order in a restaurant. Even at the finest restaurants, the low-fat selections are typically restricted to salads, grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. Which isn't bad... but did you know that you can have Fettuccine Alfredo, Homestyle Pizza, and wide varieties of seafood? Not pale imitations, but full-flavored recipes that would tempt you to break your diet. Well, now you don't have to :)

exotic seafood dishes

Colossal stuffed shrimp; Fritto Misto, Zuppa Di Pesce, Lobster Newborg, Clams Oreganata, and the list goes on. And you can order serving sizes to fit your appetite instead of a "one-size-fits-all" restaurant menu. (And yes, you can even have Fish-N-Chips)

fresh pasta dishes

As the owner of a fresh pasta restaurant, I am experienced in preparing a wide variety and pasta shapes and flavors. Fresh pasta is very nutritious and convenient to cook - just a couple minutes to boil. Stuffed pasta such as ravioli and manicotti can be filled with a variety of ingredients, flavored with just the right balance of spices and seasonings. And of course, each entree would be prepared with a rich and flavorful sauce which perfectly balances each pasta.

fun and nutritious childrens' menus

Children are the world's pickiest eaters, and pleasing them with nutritious, healthy foods is a big challenge. Even simple meals like burgers and fries, pizza, and ice cream can be made healthy and tempting. Some foods can be made in fun shapes, too.

desserts

Tempting desserts can be prepared in place of entrees. Tiramisu; Home-Baked Apple Pie; Rum Cakes; Cannoli, Eclairs and other pastries.

safe preparation

My personal chef service places emphasis on quality, convenience and safety. My background as a professionally-trained chef and restaurant owner means that I am well versed in safe and sanitary food preparation techniques. Your dishes will be prepared using only the freshest ingredients, and stored in sanitary packaging with all reheat and preparation instructions included.

accompanying wine selection

As your personal chef, I can suggest wines to accompany your meals. And for an additional charge, I can restock your selection of wines.

catering

As your personal chef, I can also assist you with catered events such as parties, holidays, weddings - even casual get-togethers. I can assist you as part of your scheduled personal chef service, with extra entrees, finger food and desserts packaged in decorative platters and trays - ready to go when you need them. Or, with some advance notice, I can cater your event "live", with dishes prepared on the spot for your guests. The choice is yours - please contact me for additional information.

a brief resume - chef Maria Stranieri

My motivation for starting this particular business comes from my past experiences, both personal and professional.

In the Italy I knew as a child, family life revolved around the kitchen, where adults would talk and children would play, while wonderful aromas filled the air. Hours of effort would go into making the dinner table the celebration of a day coming to an end. It is this atmosphere which led to my enthusiasm for cooking. After many years of experimentation at home, I decided to formalize my experience by attending the Connecticut Culinary Institute to become a chef.

Later, I started Spesa Restaurant as a new concept for Italian takeout. The focus was on fresh pasta dishes served with a wide variety of original sauces, prepared on the premises.

• Graduate, Connecticut Culinary Institute 1996
• Instructor, Connecticut Culinary Institute, where I taught gourmet hobby classes in several areas of cooking.
• Instructor, demonstration classes at Wild Oats, a natural food market in West Hartford CT.
• Instructor, cooking classes for Berlin Adult Education.
• Instructor, cooking classes for Manchester Community College
• Instructor, cooking classes for Bristol Adult Education
• Owner and operator of Spesa Restaurant, a fresh pasta restaurant in Bristol, CT.