A Pinch of This…

Born and raised in the Village of Dobbs Ferry, New York, Chef Joe Zaranski began his career in hospitality 27 years ago at a country club waiting tables. His interest in cooking started there, always chatting with the chef and learning what he could to help describe the food better to the clientele. He became increasingly interested in learning how to cook and eventually left serving for the heat of the kitchen in 1988 and never looked back.

He worked for a small pub/restaurant in Scarsdale, New York for 5 years before moving to Phoenix, Arizona. He joined Harrah’s Casino on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation just south of Phoenix where he was promoted to Sous Chef after 7 months and opened a new concept in the casino called the Range Steakhouse. While working there he decided to further his education and enrolled at the Art Institute of Phoenix Culinary Arts program and earned his degree.

He was then hired by Mark Tarbell a locally renowned Chef/Restaurateur to be a part of the opening team for his new concept Barmouche. Originally a restaurant focused on French and English comfort foods, it quickly became an ‘A-List’ late night eatery and the talk of the town.

From there he joined a new concept to the Phoenix area, Angelo & Maxie’s Steakhouse. As a Sous Chef, he was also a corporate trainer and opened 3 locations with them before being promoted to Executive Chef for the West Palm Beach, FL location. He was then recruited by Palm Restaurants in Boston and opened their location in Northbrook, IL.

He has most recently been running the kitchen operations at Italian Village Restaurants in Chicago.

Now Joe has struck out on his own, bringing his talent and love for food to the Greater Northwest Illinois area with A Pinch of This…Personal Chef and Catering Service. This unique in home service provides busy families and special needs clients with gourmet, home cooked meals.

Over the years Chef Joe has had the pleasure of cooking for a host of notables including: President Bill Clinton, Alice Cooper, Harold Ramis, Emery Moorehead, Ahmad & Phylicia Rashad, Hugh Downs, Lisa Loeb, Dweezil Zappa, Ozzie Guillen, Tony LaRussa, Mark McGuire, Sammy Hagar, and assisted Jacques Pepin and Wolfgang Puck for an event in Phoenix honoring Julia Child.

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