Cory Vitiello’s path to becoming a chef involved starting his own catering business at fifteen, from his parent’s kitchen in Brantford. He went on to graduate from the Stratford Chef School, and apprentice at Scaramouche. He worked at Cecconi’s in Melbourne and at the Drake Hotel before opening the beloved Harbord Room, which might have closed in 2016 but will be remembered forever by those who were lucky enough to visit it. He is the co-founder/owner of the Flock Rotisserie + Greens and the chef consultant for Cactus Club Cafe Toronto.
We’re talking about Chef Vitiello today because it’s Father’s Day and he has just released a cookbook for dads, called Dad in the Kitchen, which he co-authored with Chris Johns.
Beautifully shot and full of recipes that will get any family member (not just dads!) excited, there are recipes in the book suitable for the novice cook, as well as tips and tricks for the more practiced home chef. And the authors encourage bringing the kids into the kitchen and getting them involved in the action.
Johns and Vitiello
Vitiello and Johns have excellent culinary chops (Johns wrote The Last Schmaltz with Anthony Rose and True North with Montreal’s Derek Dammann), but they are also both dads. As Johns says in the intro:
“Cory and I both come from restaurant backgrounds – Cory as an owner and chef, me as a critic and food writer. When we first sat down to discuss the idea of working on a cookbook, to figure out how best to get Cory’s food into the hands and mouths of readers, we realized that although we share a deep and abiding love of restaurants, what really excites us is cooking at home.”
Just the accompaniments alone are worth the cover price; Buttermilk Avocado Ranch, Smoked Trout Dip, Pesto Vinaigrette, Prune Butter and more. The recipes are accessible, well crafted and ideal for sharing around the family dinner table. We can’t wait to try the Prawn & Tuna Burgers, Grilled Caesar Salad, Pommes Boulangère, Spatchcocked Chicken, Braised Turkey Meatballs and Fried Green Tomatoes.
But maybe not for today. Today is the day to relax and let everyone else do the cooking. But maybe, come Monday, you could pick up a copy of Dad in the Kitchen and get cooking.
Happy Father’s Day!