CT Wine & Food Festival » 2011 » Chef Michael Giletto

Chef Michael Giletto

- Chef Michael Giletto's details
- Chef Michael Giletto's presentations
Chef Michael C. Giletto, Executive chef of Ocean Place Resort and Spa and
Gourmet Butterfly Media developed his love of culinary arts as a young child
during his time spent harvesting fresh ingredients from the land his family
farmed and watching these ingredients be transformed into family feasts. From
this early interest in the kitchen, Giletto has successfully expanded his
culinary calling to encompass numerous awards and nominations, national
television and radio media appearances, and a flourishing career as Executive
Chef at one of the top rated Resorts and Media companies in America. Presently
Giletto will be filming his new show “Look who’s Cooking at The Jersey Shore” in
June and will air on Spike TV and HDTV.

Giletto’s culinary creations are
inspired by French, Sicilian, American, and other various ethnic and world
cultures. His Sicilian heritage allows him to add the flair and wide range of
bold flavors found in Mediterranean cooking to other cuisines. “The style of my
food reflects exquisite, sophisticated, contemporary, American cuisine with
Mediterranean influences,” says Chef Giletto. “I focus on locally-grown
products, seasonal ingredients, impeccable presentation, and cutting-edge menu
choices to create a truly memorable dining experience.” A key element of Chef
Giletto’s philosophy is that food should be as fresh and as local as possible.
He has a carefully cultivated network of area growers/suppliers who enable
Giletto to practice what he believes is best for procuring and serving
food.

His ability to effortlessly assemble an exceptional dining
experience has allowed Chef Giletto to excel in his career. Mere months after
graduating from the JNA Institute of the Culinary Arts in Philadelphia, he was
awarded the “Chef of the Year Award” from the American Culinary Foundation (ACF)
in 2002. Soon after, Chef Giletto became the Executive Chef for the Peacock
Inn’s Le Plumet Royale and the four-star restaurant was awarded the
distinguished James Beard Award for the “great Country Inn Chef’s Series” in
2003. In 2006, Giletto’s laudable Chef of the Year nomination from Chef Magazine
was followed by national recognition of being appointed the Celebrated Chef for
the National Pork Board. Giletto was also named Winning Chef for the National
Cattleman’s Beef Backer Award in February of 2008 in Reno, Nevada.

From
these commendable beginnings, Giletto has become an inspiring and accomplished
chef, making numerous appearances on both network and local television. After
working as the lead Food Stylist for the Book and the Cook Fair in 2005,
Giletto’s talents were recognized by Food Network’s Cat Cora. Since then,
Giletto has received cooking spots on “Iron Chef America,” appearing as one of
Cat Cora’s competition Sous-chefs. Most recently, Giletto has appeared on the
Food Network’s Culinary Competitions, “Chopped” and “Ultimate Recipe Showdown.”
He also competed on The Tyra Banks Show and won the title of “Top Pop Chef”
which awarded him the opportunity to work with Patti LaBelle as her Personal
chef. Giletto also appeared in the documentary film “Pressure Cooker” which
followed the trials and tribulations of a handful of culinary students as they
work build their culinary careers in the Tri-state area.

Currently,
Chef Giletto can be found in New Jersey and Manhattan, NY where he is the
Executive Chef for Ocean Place Resort and Spa and Gourmet Butterfly Media.
Giletto has played an integral role at the Resorts culinary team and the
rejuvenation of this beautiful, dramatically changing the companies cuisine from
basic continental fare to a menu with a more upscale worldly flair. Though his
management responsibilities at Ocean Place and GMB take up much of Giletto’s
time, he regularly visits the JNA Institute of Culinary Arts in Philadelphia to
teach classes and offer cooking demonstrations as adjunct faculty. Chef Giletto
also plans to continue making network television appearances and will be
appearing for a re-match on Food Network’s competition “Chopped” which will air
on January 12, 2010. Chef Giletto can be seen on Food Network’s Chopped and
Chopped Redemption 2009, Ultimate recipe showdown 2008, Iron Chef America with
Cat Cora 2009, 24 hour restaurant battle 2010 and 2011, The Restaurant2010,
Restaurant Impossible 2010, the Next Food Network star Finale2010, Tyra Banks
show for Top pop Chef 2009, Millionaire Matchmaker with Bravo 2010, Cook Book on
Demand Series with Comcast 2007, Flavors of America with PBS 2005, Culinary
Bragging Rights with PBS 2010 and three major motion pictures~ Birdy with
Nicholas Cage 1984, Just Right with Queen Latifah 2010 and Pressure Cooker
2009.