You may see the well-dressed Scott Conant on Food Network’s “Chopped” and wish you had become a chef yourself to savor the delicious meals that the contestants make. However, besides the designer suits he wears, how much can you honestly say you know about this celebrity chef? Here are a few facts that we have gathered from the Food Network and his Wikipedia page.
1. He began taking cooking classes at 11 years
When his peers were probably thinking of making a move on a girl as the teenage hormones were kicking in, Scott Conant had other things on his mind. Scott decided to take cooking classes when he was only 11, and maybe it was the best decision of his life, seeing that it opened up his interest in being a chef.
2. Scott has a net worth of $5 million
Scott Conant is a celebrity chef and restaurateur who has made his money following his cooking passion. Being that his restaurants have been recognized as among the best in the United States, he must get lots of guests willing to entice their palates with Italian delicacies. Scott is an also a cookbook author who has published three books namely: “Scott Conant’s New Italian Cooking,” “Bold Italian” and “The Scarpetta Cooking.”
3. He was accused it stealing tips from employees
It is strange that a person making loads of money from selling cookbooks, being a chef and owning restaurants would think of taking the little that his employees make but that is precisely what Scott’s employees accused him of in 2015. According to the Daily Mail, more than 20 employees, both past and present, sued Scott over claims that he cheated them out of their tips. At first, only five workers had filed the lawsuit, but others joined in saying that the restaurant’s system cheated employees out of at least $50 each night.
4. His honeymoon to Tahiti was boring
After marrying the love of your love, you cannot wait to spend a few days together, sharing intimate and memorable moments. Well, Scott may have prepared for a romantic getaway to Tahiti but then had the most boring experience of his life. After staying in an overwater bungalow, Scott was anxious and would rather have been at work. He attempted to make a change by moving to a private island, Tahaa but that did not improve anything, and if he had spent more than a week there, he probably would have gone insane.
5. He knew he wanted to be a chef at 15
At 15, teenage boys are eyeing a spot on the football team and other sports, hoping it will land them the opportunity to date the hottest girl in school. Scott, however, knew that being a chef was his destiny and he began working towards it by joining W.F. Kaynor Technical High School for culinary arts, and later on enrolling in CIA (Culinary Institute of America). Determined to be an all-rounded chef, he interned at San Domenico, a popular restaurant in New York and upon graduation Scott traveled to Munich and mastered the art of pastry after spending a year at the Hotel Bayerischer Hor.
6. He named his restaurant after his grandmother
Scott has always put his best forward when it comes to delivering his culinary expertise. He opened Scarpetta, a restaurant in Chelsea, Manhattan in 2008 and continued to open other branches of the restaurant in new locations. However, he rested for almost a decade before deciding to open another restaurant, this time getting inspiration from his grandmother. Fusco was his grandmother’s maiden name, and he named his new restaurant after her because she was among the first people who influenced Scott to join the hotel industry, as Scott revealed during his interview with Food & Wine.
7. He never makes octopus at home
After being named the “Best Chef in America” in 2004 by Food & Wine magazine, you would think that Scott would be happy to prepare every kind of meal at home for his family to enjoy. While he loves his family to the moon and back and even enjoys cooking with his daughter, Scott would rather order an octopus than make one at home because he loves a delicious octopus.
8. Being a baseball player was his alternative career
Have you ever wondered what you would be doing if the career you chose did not work out for the best? Scott already knew he would be a baseball player because he loved the sport. Matter of fact is when he began taking cooking classes, he did not know where it would lead him. So after realizing that baseball was not working out, Scott decided to be a chef. He, however, thinks he should have dreamed big enough and maybe now he would have retired after making tons of money on the pitch.
9. His favorite snack is popcorn
Watching a movie without your bowl of popcorn seems impossible, and that is the opportunity that most businesses take advantage of by selling popcorn outside movie theaters. However, for Scott, he does not need to be watching a movie to enjoy a bowl of popcorn. If he gets hungry at night, instead of snacking on ice cream, he would rather eat some popcorn popped in extra virgin olive oil and seasoned with sea salt.
10. He can’t do without a handheld blender in his kitchen
A regular blender will get the work done, but Scott favors a handheld blender instead because he understands the versatility that the tool offers. As a chef, he is tasked with making different meals that may require blending a few ingredients. For instance, whether it is making smoothies, beating eggs, whipping up mayonnaise or making the pancake batter, the handheld blender is perfect. A kitchen demands hygienic conditions and enough counter space so Scott must love it because it is easy to clean and for its lack of taking up too much space.
Follow Us
