| Chef Ernie Pio
It all started from me telling a lie to my father at at 16 years old which led to my punishment of being grounded for the summer. Of course, I got on my parents nerves and my mother decided to get me a job in a produce store called “Farmer Joe’s.” It was here that I was lucky enough to work for seven years with two gentlemen, each with over 50 years of experience working with food. This is where I began to learn not only about food but also about people. From there I furthered my experience working as a produce manager for Shop n Bag supermarkets. It was here that I heard about this school called the “Culinary Institute of America.” It only took one visit and I knew this was my true destiny. After a one year wait I began school in 1985. The CIA was a place that when I first walked through those doors it gave me goose bumps that I can still feel to this day. My foundation was already set before school, but it was here where everything began to make sense for me in the culinary world. For the first time in my life I clearly saw my future. I have paid my dues and learned so much over the past 20 years working in fine dining restaurants, hotels, cafés and for other catering companies. Everything has lead me to this moment. In this last decade of growing my own cafe's and catering company, I feel very blessed for all that I have been able to accomplish. But if it was not for my parent’s love and guidance along with my uncanny vision for the future I believe I would not be where I am today. Though, it is my wife and children who inspire me to continue this path of success, It is their love and support that continue to drive me to be all that I am.
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