We've loved sharing our Team Spotlight with you! This week's spotlight is on Account Manager/Chef Paul Kuhn, who is based in Utah and was born with cooking and baking in his blood. Here's a little more about his background and some of his favorite things.
What was your first foodservice job?
I started as a Dishwasher at a casino and when I left there 8 years later, I was the Assistant F&B Director.
What inspired you to become a chef?
As a very young man, I would make cakes, pies, and treats during the breaks we would take while playing outside and my friends and I would eat them. I later learned that my late grandmother had been a chef and that set my path.
Do you have a most embarrassing chef moment you want to share with us?
At my dessert restaurant, I had a committee that would taste and critique the item we were proposing for the next month’s special. The room was packed and short on space so I sat one of the desserts on my chair while we reviewed the others. Forgetting that I had placed it there, I went to sit in my chair to listen to the comments and SPLAT. Needless to say, it didn’t make it on that month's menu.
What is your best chef hack?
If you have too much salt in your soup or sauce, place some raw potato (sliced open) in it to absorb the salt. The amount of potatoes should be determined by the size of the batch.
What's your favorite thing about being a chef?
The art, science, and chemistry of it all. It has always amazed me how you can combine different ingredients and see the magic it creates when it is done correctly, then to prepare a plate for presentation and watch it turn into a work of art is so inspiring.
What is something every kitchen, personal and professional, should own?
A quality Knife. Find one that feels good in your hand and is built well.
Do you have a funny or favorite Elevation Nation memory?
Here in Utah, Jeff and I have had some very funny days and moments none of which I can talk about. But the bowling competitions at Punch Bowl Social a couple of years ago was a lot of fun and it is funny to see some people's competitive side come out.
Any words of wisdom you'd like to share with everyone?
Food is Love, Passion, and Hard Work.
Are you ready to work with our chefs? Schedule some time to hang out in our state-of-the-art Chef's Playground to get hands-on experience on the equipment you're looking for.
