Personal Chef, Culinary Intructor, Food Writer, and Consultant
Chef Brian's Education
Chef Brian Adornetto began his culinary journey early in life. He was taught the basics of cooking by his mother and grandfather at the landmark P.N.K. Tavern in Jersey City, NJ which has been in his family for over 75 years. Brian graduated from Saint Peter's Prep and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Peter’s College before attending culinary school. He has also completed the Lisa Ekus Group's Media Training Course.
Chef Brian's Experience
After graduating from Peter Kump’s School of Culinary Arts in Manhattan (now known as the Institute of Culinary Education), Brian honed his skills at high profile New Jersey restaurants such as Chris’s Grill House, Puccini’s, and Sonoma Grill before joining the Five-Diamond Award winning team in the Hilton at Short Hills, NJ. While there, he cooked in both the Four-Diamond, Three-Star Terrace Restaurant and the Five-Diamond, Four-Star Dining Room. Brian eventually left to become Sous Chef at Amanda's Restaurant in Hoboken, NJ which received an “Excellent” rating in all of the Zagat's guides during his time there.
After settling down with his wife, Barbara, he rejoined the Hilton Hotel Corporation and served as Banquet Sous Chef and later as Chef de Cuisine in the Hilton at East Brunswick, NJ. He then became an Executive Chef for Morrison Management Specialists, a division of Compass Group. He was also a Culinary Instructor for Wakefern Food Corporation where he taught and developed recipes and curriculum for “hands on” cooking classes and was the chef consultant for Rao's Specialty Foods.
Brian has twice cooked at the James Beard House. He has taught at the Holly Springs Farmers' Market, Chapel Hill Farmers' Market, Devil's Ridge Country Club in Holly Springs, Ger Nis Culinary Center in NYC, De Gustibus at The Cellar in Macy's Herald Square New York City, and live on WHUD 100.7 FM in the Hudson Valley of New York. Chef Brian has also cooked for the Taste of the NFL at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and the Taste of the Ladies Professional Golf Association in Atlantic City, NJ. Chef Brian had the pleasure of assisting the Lee Brothers with their Triangle appearance and has performed cooking demonstrations on News 12 NJ and Time Warner Channel 10 News.
Personal Chef, Consultant, and Food Writer
Chef Brian is currently operating Love At First Bite, LLC. He teaches Basic and Advanced Knife Skills as well as the "Guys on the Grill” series of classes at A Southern Season's CLASS cooking studio in Chapel Hill. If interested in these classes, please see the CLASS schedule.
Brian is also on the adjunct culinary faculty of Wake Tech Communtity College where he teaches a variety of culinary courses for the Continuing Education Department. If interested, please click here to register.
In addition, Brian is the food editor for the Raleigh Downtowner, a monthly publication.
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- International Association of Culinary Professionals
- The American Personal Chefs Association
- Southern Foodways Alliance
- ServSafe Certified
- Spoons Across America
- Culinary Historians of Piedmont, NC
Personal
Brian and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters, Gabriella and Aliza. He and his family relocated to the Triangle area of North Carolina a few years ago. Brian is the President of the Holly Springs Kiwanis Club, the Vice Chairman of the Holly Springs Board of Adjustments, and a graduate of the Inaugural Holly Springs LEADS Academy.
Interviews