Local Chef Turns Local Artist

Is cooking science or an art? “Both I guess” say’s Chef Joseph Sasso of Sam’s of Gedney Way. “I’ve always cooked with the fundamental of science as my base but always I’ve wanted my dishes to have a certain eye appeal to turn customers on immediately” Having been trained at The Culinary Institute of America, Chef Sasso knows a thing or two on how to cook. Art, painting, drawing, not so much. “I couldn’t draw a stick figure before I met Alan Reingold”, who holds a weekly Monday class for artist to hone their skills. “So I used the same principles I used to become a chef. Practice, practice, practice and learn from a great teacher. Alan is fantastic; he started teaching me the basics and was very encouraging right from the start”. “Rookie” he calls Sasso as he shows the rest of the class his progress.

Within a year Alan invited Chef Sasso to put some of his work in the class show which will be held at the Mt. Kisco Library, Wednesday September 2nd at 5:30pm for an opening reception showing which will stay up for the month of September. “There are a lot of great artist in the class, a bit intimidating. In my world, I am the intimidator, but you know, it’s a good feeling being a rookie again”

Alan Reingold holds a BFA from The Rhode Island School of Design. In his 35 years as a professional artist, Alan has accumulated dozens of national art awards. A painter and illustrator, he has produced more than a 100 national magazine covers and dozens of movie posters. Reingold’s major clients include: Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Mobil, American Express and ATT. Without question, the most popular artwork in his portfolio is the logo for Tristar — the winged horse Pegasus. His major portrait commissions include President Jimmy Carter, President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush. As a teacher, Reingold has been a fixture at Parsons School of Design for 15 years. He served as Visual Arts Director at Mount Kisco’s Northern Westchester Center for the Arts (NWCA) for six years, until its close in October 2005.

Joseph’s professional career started at the highly touted La Reserve Hotel in White Plains as Saucier, move to Country Clubs as Sous Chef then as Executive Chef of the Gallery Restaurant In 1989, by the age of twenty three, Joseph earned his first of six, two stars from the N.Y. Times. His restaurants, always earned Best of Westchester. By 2004, Joseph became a Certified Executive Chef by the American Culinary Federation. 2005, Chef/Owner of JoJo’s Fishhouse. 2009 Chef de Cuisine of Monteverde Restaurant, earning his first three stars from the N.Y. Times. Since 2010, Joseph runs the complex culinary department as the Executive Chef of N.Y.Hospitality Group which encompasses, the 83yr old, Sam’s of Gedney Way, The Great American BBQ Co. & Caperberry Events. In 2013, Sasso was named one of “ Best Chefs America”.

Mount Kisco Public Library
100 Main St, Mt Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 666-8041
www.mountkiscolibrary.org

Photos
1 and 2 - Drawings by Joe Sasso
3 - Joe Sasso