Humanizing Chefs: Sam Pellerito

Name — Sam Pellerito

Where do you Cook? -I am the owner of CinSoy Foods

Favorite Food — Vietnamese

Favorite Chef — Hideki Harada

Favorite Cincy Restaurant (Past or Present) — Don’t make me say that. I am honestly a simple eater. I enjoy everything from fried chicken to 12 course meals. At the end of the day I think I eat at Pho Lang Tang more than anywhere else.

Favorite Food Memory or Meal — My Dad and I used to watch PBS on the weekends with Yan Can Cook and Louisiana Cookin’. We’d watch the episode and then try to make the recipe. Since this was way before social media waiting for the next episode was so exciting!

I first knew I wanted to be a chef when — I cooked a simple pasta dish on my own at 12. I was hooked from then on.

If I weren’t a chef, I would be — Since I’m not a chef anymore I may be living my “other”. Being involved in food gives me a ton of energy.

My first job was — Dishwasher and line cook at the local country club. Eventually I moved up to omelet station but I worked there all through high school.

Why I love my job, in three words — I get to create things that make people happy and excited!

If I could have dinner with anybody, alive or dead, it would be — I would love to eat with Anthony Bourdain

My favorite book is — It’s actually a trilogy. Red Planet, Blue Planet, Green Planet by Kim Stanley Robinson was so well written I read it for hours and didn’t even notice.

Favorite thing to cook after a busy service- After a busy day I love to make simple things. Szechuan noodles or even just a simple spontaneous dish makes me happy. My son (3) is getting more interested in food so a lot of what I am making now is in the hopes he will want to try it.

Favorite TV show — Currently — Diplomat on Netflix

Favorite Song — Daughter by Pearl Jam

Favorite Band or Musician — Pearl Jam

Favorite Place to travel — Vietnam

Favorite Hobby — Golf

Favorite Quote — Everything happens for a reason

Biggest pet peeve — When someone won’t let you enter the highway when the lane is ending.

My advice to future culinary pros — I think my advice to anyone in the food industry is to find something you’re passionate about. If you become passionate about something else it’s okay to make a change.