Q & A with Owner of Toro and James Beard Award Winning Chef - Jamie Bissonnette
What is your first food memory?
Climbing the drawers (pulled them out like a ladder) to the counter so I could eat the butter out of the dish. I was 4 or 5. And I still think of butter like that.
What is your favorite home cooked meal?
Roasted Chicken with broccoli, potatoes & biryani rice.
What was a typical meal for you growing up?
We ate a lot of casseroles of mixed canned soups and egg noodles, smothered in cheese, and baked. They were more miss then hit......
Do you have any advice for people who are learning to cook on their own?
Stir, taste, adjust. Remember to take your time. Read a recipe all the way through before starting to cook, and pay attention to the details.
What do you always have in your fridge at home?
EGGS. I can always make something with eggs!
Is there an ingredient that you use often that would surprise people?
Cracked hemp seeds. It's awesome on granola or cooked into steamed rice, and add some unique flavor.
Do you have any cooking tips for people that are trying to impress their date?
Practice your meal before you have that pressure, and make something that your date would like. Do your research!
If you could choose anyone to cook a meal for (alive or deceased) who would it be and why?
My dad. He's a great eater!
Was there anyone or anything that inspired you to become a chef?
I think that I was hard wired to cook. I can't put my finger on it. My Great Grandma was an awesome cook. I think that was the start.
What's coming up next for you?
About to go to the grocery store so I can cook dinner. After that, taking more time to cook with my friends.
