May’s featured DaVinci Master Chef* was Michael Ferraro, whose culinary career began early on, inspired by his Southern Italian parents and their love for quality and tradition. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America at 20 years of age, Chef Ferarro pursued opportunities to further develop his own creativity in the kitchen. With stints at Beacon Restaurant, Mercer Kitchen, the Four Seasons Hotel, Fifty Seven Fifty Seven, the Biltmore Room, Café Centro, and Fresh in Tribeca, Ferraro took over the kitchen at the famed SoHo restaurant, Delicatessen, in 2018, where he elevated the cuisine to its current state, continuing to update the menu seasonally, while also drawing inspiration from his recent travels. Ferraro then opened Macbar in 2009, a restaurant fully dedicated to gourmet macaroni & cheese. Chef Ferraro is a member of Zagat’s inaugural 2011 class of “30 Under 30” and he has since established himself as a leader within the culinary world. He’s been featured on numerous national TV networks such as CBS, ABC, NBC, and more, and has appeared as a judge on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, as well as a reoccurring Chef Expert alongside Jon Taffer on the hit series, Bar Rescue. Outside of the restaurant scene, Ferraro gives back to many organizations such as The Center for Discovery, as a longstanding DaVinci Master Chef.
Recently, The Center for Discovery®’s Department of Nourishment Arts®’ chefs had the opportunity to learn from Ferraro as he showcased two, seasonally-inspired appetizing recipes – a Summer “Pasta” with Charred Tomato Vinaigrette, and Corn & Eggplant Caponata & Poached Farm Egg. Lucky for us, our DNA chefs made these same dishes for our entire team of staff – of 1,700 – for our fifth event, DaVinci Master Chefs Series Presents: the Food of Michael Ferraro. After each event, the mouthwatering recipes are officially rolled out on a seasonal menu that The Center’s residents can enjoy.
The two exceptional recipes, thanks to Chef Ferraro, are available below for you to try your hand at in your own kitchen. A special thanks in advance to Michael Ferraro, for making you a culinary rock star at the next summer BBQ you attend!
*The DaVinci Master Chef program at The Center for Discovery® invites acclaimed chefs from around the world to engage with our community here, and to volunteer their time to share their knowledge with our own team of chefs in our Department of Nourishment Arts® (DNA). Through Chef Cesare Casella, Chief of DNA, this program brings together colleagues and masters in the culinary world, who admire the use of fresh food as a therapeutic tool. Each year, our DaVinci Master Chefs visit The Center to teach their recipes (based on products from our Thanksgiving Farm®), to our DNA chefs. Our chefs learn the recipes and techniques taught by the master chef, which they bring back to the residences to prepare in our kitchens. What happens next? Well, our culinary team enjoys an educational exchange with leading chefs who not only inspire creativity, but a new skillset, as well.
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