Exciting news! Local Chef - Silvia Baldini, Founder of New Canaan based culinary group Strawberry and Sage, is going to be a contestant on the Food Network’s hit series Chopped. Tune in on Tuesday, March 31st at 10pm, and watch Silvia go head-to head with three other determined chefs, who are challenged to create a dish in 30 minutes. If you haven't ever watched Chopped, you may think that's not very challenging for a professional chef. Well believe me, it is when the chefs are given a mystery basket of obscure and unconventional ingredients they have to use and they only have that time to produce something palatable for a panel of expert judges! The first round is 'Appetizers', where one chef will be 'chopped'. The next round is 'Entrees' where another chef is 'chopped'. The final nail-biting round is 'Desserts', where the two-remaining chefs go head-to-head. We don't know how Silvia has done in this competition, but knowing her skills and steely determination, I feel confident. Following is information on her culinary career and more about the Chopped experience.
Silvia is no newcomer to high-stakes competitions. Before realizing her lifelong dream to become a chef, she had a notable career as a Madison Avenue art director - where she created award-winning ad campaigns. She brings the same drive, focus, creativity, and passionate eye for beauty to her cooking. Silvia says: “When I was cast for Chopped on the Food Network, I was nervous and scared, but I decided to just go for it. Once I walked into the Chopped kitchen, I relaxed, stuck with recipes I knew by heart, and presented all my food beautifully.”
Her composure, steely nerves, and the ability to draw from her extensive cooking experience, using a wide variety of ingredients, flavorings, and techniques are essential to success in the high-pressure Chopped kitchen. Silvia says: “I kept thinking: Turn on the stove, think ahead, keep it simple and beautiful. Don’t be scared to take a little risk and don’t get distracted by Judge Marc Murphy talking to me in Italian!”
Silvia, a native of Turin, Italy graduated from Le Cordon Bleu, London and Cornell/French Culinary Institute restaurant management program in New York. She says: “I had a good time doing what I love on Chopped: cooking chic, comfort food with passion” says Chef Silvia. “The day of the show I ended up having a blast. I cooked for 12-hours straight and my love for cooking and experience in the kitchen came through.”
Chef Silvia is looking forward to growing Strawberry and Sage and her food career. Besides cooking for clients and events, she is currently working on segments for TV appearances, a cookery book and a series of food lectures based on her love for comfort, chic meals and sharing food. Her food philosophy is based on the idea that when you share food with friends, family and your community it will undeniably taste better and make you happier.
About the “Fake Cake, Real Stakes” episode premiering on Tuesday, March 31st
Strawberry and Sage is an innovative culinary group that celebrates food and art. We offer catering and food preparation for select clients, event management, strategic partnerships in the food and media industry, cooking instruction, menu development, recipe development, writing and testing; photography and food styling; cookbook and media consulting including TV, digital, and social media; and restaurant and kitchen consultations.
Silvia has kindly agreed to agreed to post her recipes on the New Canaan HamletHub from the show, once they have been broadcast.
Get behind Silvia by tuning in to Food Network on Tuesday, March 31st at 10pm.