Scott Conant is the chef and owner of Scarpetta Restaurants, host of Food Network's 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, a Chopped judge and a dad to two little girls. Chef Conant took time out of his busy schedule to speak with me on the phone. He shared stories of his childhood,what inspired him to be a chef, and gave advice to kids that like to cook - including how to make the perfect plate of spaghetti.
Julia the Child: I read that you took you first cooking class when you were 11. Can you tell me about that?
Scott Conant: I grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut and took my first cooking class at a local community center. I learned how to make pie dough and made my first apple pie. It's important to know how to make a good pie dough.
JTC: You said you knew you wanted to be a chef when you were 15. How did you know it was what you wanted to do.
SC: My first job in a professional kitchen was as a dishwasher. It reminded me of playing on my baseball team and being with my teammates. I liked the camaraderie and teamwork of being in the kitchen. It was the mid-80's and I had no idea what to expect but I knew it was right for me.
JTC: Do you have any advice for children that want to cook?
SC: Taste lots of things, experience new foods. If you are really interested in cooking, dedicate yourself to it. When I was in high school, I would carry Escoffier's cookbook with me in my backpack and it became part of my life. Being inspired by food is a good thing even if you don't make it your career. My 3 year old daughter loves to cook with me in the kitchen. It's a family experience for us.
JTC: I read that your wife's family is from Turkey. That must have brought a lot of new recipes to your home kitchen. Which dish from Turkey does your daughter love the most?
SC: Breakfast in Turkey is great. They lay out big tables with plates of olives, yogurt, cucumbers, bread covered in sesame seeds and sometimes boiled eggs. My daughter likes to eat 2-3 of the baby cucumbers, yogurt and the sesame bread for breakfast.
JTC: On Chopped, the contestants are sometimes afraid to cook pasta for you. What can people do to cook pasta perfectly at home?SC: Spaghetti is actually the best selling dish at Scarpetta. We cook a lot of pasta! The best way to do it is to boil the pasta until it is 90% cooked, then put it in a sauce pan. The pasta releases the starch and absorbs the flavor of the sauce while it cooks. Adding olive oil or butter to the pasta in the pan gives it a nice finish.
JTC: Which three foods do you suggest all kids try - even if they only try them once?
SC: 1)Try a vegetable - any vegetable. Vegetables are important and you will find one you like.
2) Innards like liver or tripe. Life is more than filet mignon and short ribs. It's important to appreciate the whole animal that gave its life for us.
3) Fish is also important, definitely try caviar.
JTC: Kids and families can get in food ruts. Do you have any tips to get kids to try new things?
SC: Try adding new things to foods you already like. Roll vegetables into chicken or add a protein to a dessert.
To learn more about Chef Conant check out the following links:
Scott Conant 24 Hour Restaurant Battle Chopped
