Vitalia Strongsville Culinary Director Appreciates Their Mentor for Inspiration

In a world where culinary masterpieces are pushing the boundaries of flavors and presentations, there exists an invaluable secret to culinary success, mentorship. Behind every chef’s triumph, there stands a guiding light, a culinary mentor, who ignited the flame of passion and drive, unlocking the true potential within a budding culinary enthusiast. A mentor can present oneself in a variety of ways. It may be hands-on cooking in the kitchen and guiding with culinary techniques, providing direction with passion, drive, and inspiration, or pushing the mentee through the tough days, knowing the outcome will be much greater. The person who can spark creativeness and help shape a culinarian’s journey from raw talent to culinary brilliance, creates the type of stories we love to share at Vitalia Strongsville.

The person most instrumental in my personal growth and drive in the culinary field is Douglas Miller CEC. I worked under him as an apprentice through culinary school at a country club for four years. I continue to talk to him all the time. He is my “go to” person when I have concerns, frustration, or need advice.

As a mentor he means a lot to me. Douglas taught me so much about food and how to manage people. I learned the importance of caring about others and how you should treat your employees. He was always there for me, working long hours as a coach when I was on the culinary team in school. His efforts resulted in us winning a national title. Douglas has always taken the time to teach, including how patience goes a long way in this industry.

If I had to create one dish that best represents my mentor, it would be something with lobster. We would do a lobster theme dinner with bisque, appetizer of lobster, and entree. It was always a hit with the guests. The man is obsessed with lobster, and he is feisty like a lobster!

As we continue to push our creative menus and flavors, we can reflect on all the amazing culinary mentors out there who have dedicated their time, energy, and wisdom to help develop us as Culinary Directors, along with their teams. As the culinary world evolves, one thing remains constant, the torch of culinary mentorship will continue to shine and bring new, upcoming chefs into our communities. Let us celebrate this tradition by raising a toast to the mentors who enriched our lives, giving us the opportunity to taste their delectable creations.