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.

Jack Hoffman (aka “Hawaii Jack”)

MasterChef Junior Finalist

Eleven-year-old Jack Hoffman may not have won Season 1 of FOX’s MasterChef Junior, but this young chef is still making a splash in the culinary world! At the Kids Food Festival, he joined his fellow contestant Alexander Weiss as the duo built burgers. Outside of the kitchen, the East Rockaway, New York resident is an accomplished pianist, an avid bowler, and a tennis player. Known for cooking in his Hawaiian shirts, Jack is also a bit of a jokester who loves WWE wrestling. Jack dreams of having his own French bistro and his own cooking show one day, where he can teach others how to cook. A couple Michelin starts couldn’t hurt, either!

Facebook Page: facebook.com/masterchefjuniorjack

Instagram: @HawaiiJackMCJ

What was your favorite food to eat as a child?

Natalie Kalb

Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Mercadito Hospitality

Lisa Ekus

Founder of the Lisa Ekus Group, LLC

Our friend Lisa Ekus is simply amazing! She is the founder of The Lisa Ekus Group, LLC, a full-service culinary agency specializing in “promoting a world of culinary talent.” Based in Western Massachusetts, she oversees four core divisions of her company: Literary Agenting, A Culinary Talent Agency for Spokesperson/Endorsement representation, Media Training, and Public Relations. Her business is located in a 200-plus-year-old renovated farmhouse! The Lisa Ekus Group has more than 30 years of experience representing a diversified selection of food personalities, writers, cookbooks, restaurants, and food products. Her agency now represents more than 150 authors and works with numerous leading publishers worldwide. Lisa is also an experienced media trainer and holds regular seminars in her professional kitchen, in addition to leading training for corporate chef groups!

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheLisaEkusGroup

Website: www.LisaEkus.com

Twitter: @lisaekus

What was your favorite food to eat as a child?

My mom would make me a chocolate chip cake with cocoa frosting every year for my birthday. Love it still! And her Swedish meatballs. And my dad would go to Zabar’s every Sunday and we’d have a massive Sunday brunch with all our friends. Pickled herring, smoked salmon (lox), whitefish, cream cheese and bagels.

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

Both my adult daughters cook extensively and well. We love to make Asian themed dinners together and share all kitchen creations for major holidays. When they were little we made pretzels and dumplings as family projects.

What is your favorite childhood memory in the kitchen?

Learning to bake from my mom—we’d  make lemon meringue and apple pies. Getting ready for holiday meals as a family, we’d all prep and cook together. Great fun and priceless memories.

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

Chopped liver.

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.