Our team members are an important part of Elevation Foodservice Reps so we’re giving you access to them through our new Team Spotlight series. We’ll spend a few minutes with a team member to let you find out a little more about them and how they make Elevation Special.
Our next spotlight is with Chef Nick Sortore. While most of his self-proclaimed favorite Elevation moments could be deemed NSFW (that's Not Safe For Work for all of you full word folks out there), we did manage to get a few great insights from him in this edition of Team Spotlight.
Nick, what is your favorite thing about being a chef?
Food brings people together. To be able to create or bring up memories that connect individuals through food is what drives inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration, what inspired you to become a chef?
I was in school for mathematics, and after one trying day, realized I never wanted each day to feel the same and with little excitement. While I had been working in the industry for several years, it's that moment that pushed me full time into the commitment of cooking.
Do you have any role models?
I look up to Marcus Samuelsson. I appreciate his rustic and simple approach to bold flavors and have tried to take that same approach.
What's your favorite ingredient to use?
Aside from creativity, I find ginger absolutely compelling. Desserts, mains, dressings -- its bold flavor lends to spice, sweetness, and heat in a dish. It also takes a gentle hand as too much can ruin almost anything with bitterness.
What is something every kitchen, personal and professional, should own?
An immersion blender. And for commercial kitchens multiple sizes to handle different batches as nothing is worse than making a small amount of dressing and not being able to get the emulsion going because you only have a large one.
We all know chefs are wise. What are your words of wisdom?
If you have the freedom to be adventurous, be adventurous. Find out what does and doesn’t work. You don’t lose. You either win or you learn.
We couldn't agree more, and that's why Chef Nick is such a valuable member of our team. If you'd like to schedule some time to pick his brain in our state-of-the-art Chef's Playground, book some time today!
