Alex Zagami

Owner of Piccolini NYC

Our friend Alex Zagami is owner of the New York City centric children’s boutique, Piccolini. Piccolini specializes in thoughtful and unique gifts that are perfect for this holiday season. We especially love her fun food gifts and trademark t-shirt, in which a portion of the proceeds is donated to charity. Not only can you purchase an adorable gift for that special child – you can feel great about giving! 

Website: piccolininyc.com

Facebook Page: facebook.com/PiccoliniNYC

Twitter: @piccolininyc

Instagram: @piccolininyc

What was your favorite food to eat as a child?

My favorite food to eat as a child …… My Grandpa Sonny’s cookies. He owned Savoia, a bakery in Little Italy and retired after my parents were married. I never got to see the bakery, but my Grandpa was known for spoiling everyone with his sweet treats. I was always a fussy eater as a child, so he created in me the bad habit of cookies for dinner. In tribute to him, my store’s colors resemble The Rainbow Cookie …. We also use bakers twine as an homage to him.

Do you have children? If so, what do you like to make for them or with them?

I am not a Mom just yet … But I consider my store my baby. Perhaps the greatest gift of owning my store is being able to watch families grow. I love seeing expecting mothers in the store and then again when their little one is born. I consider myself very fortunate in that sense.

What is your favorite childhood memory in the kitchen?

My favorite childhood memory in the kitchen ( and I’m still guilty of this today ) is picking at my Dad’s dishes before he puts them out to serve, especially the antipasti! The end of the mozzarella is my favorite, which he usually saves for me

What was your favorite recipe to help make when you were a kid?

My favorite recipe to help as a kid is something as simple as scrambled eggs. Just being able to help anyone in the kitchen at such a young age was a thrill. The kitchen for me has been and will always be my favorite room in the home.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Meet our friend Rachel Begun! Whether writing, speaking, consulting for the food industry or conducting a media interview, Rachel comes to the table with the same philosophy: good nutrition and delicious eating must co-exist for healthy habits to be sustainable. This philosophy is the driving force behind her work with health organizations, food manufacturers and foodservice providers to assist them in developing, implementing and communicating their nutrition and culinary education platforms, products and services.  As The Gluten Free RD, a particular area of expertise for Rachel is working alongside chefs and foodservice providers to serve safe and healthful gluten free options for consumers.

As a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Rachel regularly conducts interviews with the media.  She has contributed her knowledge to many outlets, including USA Today, CNN, Consumer Reports, Eating Well, Fitness, Us Weekly, Woman’s Day, Better Homes and Gardens, WebMD.com, Today Health/MSNBC, Shape.com and Doctor Radio Sirius Satellite.

Rachel graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University in Atlanta, GA with a B.A. in biology and a concentration in pre-medical studies. She earned her M.S. degree in nutrition education from Teachers College, Columbia University and completed her internship for registered dietitian certification there as well.

What was your favorite food to eat as a child?

If there is one food that brings me back to childhood it is Cream of Wheat.  It was the ultimate comfort food for me.  My mother made it on weekday mornings and my grandmother made it when she visited on the weekends.  They both made it differently. I used to call it “rina” (short for farina). Unfortunately, I can no longer eat it, as I am gluten free.

Do you have children if so what do you like to make for them or with them?

I do not have children of my own, but do cook with children professionally.  I particularly enjoy making gluten free dishes with kids.  I like that they are expanding their dietary horizons and they like knowing we are preparing something special that is safe for them to eat.  Plus, the culinary skills they learn will last a lifetime.

What is your favorite childhood memory in the kitchen?

I wouldn’t say I have one specific memory, but in general I remember all of the holidays.  My mom is one of those people who can cook pretty much anything and has never had any formal training.  And I’ve never seen her use a recipe.  I remember her in the kitchen for the entire day and me and my brother and sister asking how we could help.  Good music was always playing in the background.

What was your favorite recipe to help make when you were a kid?

This questions makes me realize I was probably a dietitian in the making from very early on.  I always helped out with the salads and vegetable side dishes.  Go figure!

 

 

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Natalie Kalb

Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Mercadito Hospitality

The Creative Kitchen loves Karen Hochman and her WONDERFUL website focusing on the best specialty foods, THE NIBBLE!  We’re big fans of THE NIBBLE, and the great information it provides our families and friends!

Karen Hochman

Editorial Director, THE NIBBLE

 Facebook Page: facebook.com/thenibble.gourmetfood

Website: thenibble.com and blog.thenibble.com

Twitter: thenibble

What was your favorite food to eat as a child?

Ice cream.

What is your favorite childhood memory in the kitchen?

Watching my mother cook, and helping by crimping pie crusts and rolling blintzes.

What was your favorite recipe to help make when you were a kid?

Brownies, because I loved “licking the bowl.”

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

The Creative Kitchen loves Organic Valley and their MOOOOOOOOOarvelous line of dairy products!  We’re big fans of their farmers, and all they do for our families and friends!

Elizabeth and Benji 

Friends of Organic Valley 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/OrganicValley

Website: www.organicvalley.coop

What is Organic Valley?

Organic Valley is America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,766 farmers in 35 states. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. With its regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies.

Who are Elizabeth and Benji?

Elizabeth is a busy working mom, and Benji is her #1 Home Test Kitchen Recipe Taster

What was your favorite food to eat as a child?

Dairy, anything dairy.  My father grew up on a dairy farm on the coast of Maine.  What a dab of butter and pinch of fresh herbs do for a side of humble boiled Kennebec Red potatoes! Butter, cheese, sour cream—you’ll still see it on my plate today—all farm fresh, organic, and (well, mostly) in moderation.

 Do you have children if so what do you like to make for them or with them?

My son is an adventurous eater who’s curious about food.  We spend a lot of time in the kitchen together.  He’s a great stirrer, measurer and taster. Steamed broccoli and hummus remain one of his favorite snacks, and he loves onions and mushrooms sautéed in butter.  We’re fortunate to have access to fresh off the docks seafood, such as clams, mussels, crabs, lobster and all kinds of fish. We’ve had a thing for fish tacos lately.  Grilled fish, avocados, cilantro, and fresh corn topped with sour cream, yum.

 What is your favorite childhood memory in the kitchen?

Making blueberry pancakes with my grandmother on the farm.  We would use blueberries that we had picked the day before and she’d fire up a big cast iron pan that was too heavy for me to manage.  I was allowed to use the spatula to flip. You can bet we served them with butter (yup, more dairy) and real maple syrup.

 What was your favorite recipe to help make when you were a kid?

I liked making lasagna—it was fun to layer ingredients and sneak pinches of mozzarella in the process.  I still do.  My son and I make classic Bolognese lasagna in the fall and winter, and sometimes mix it up with roasted vegetables or switch gears entirely with a butternut squash, hazelnut and sage recipe we love.  The secret is béchamel, lots of it.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.