Born and raised in New Jersey, I have had the good fortune of being born in South Jersey and raised in North Jersey. I’ve been a foodie before it was ever “a thing”. I grew up working in many Jersey restaurants, from dishwasher to cook. I was wearing an apron when my high school friends were fine tuning their tolerance to Peach Schnapps and I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I finished college, I made the decision to leave the restaurant world behind and I have never NOT looked back. I frequently second guess my career path although I have achieved professional success as a CFO in a New Jersey Print Distributor; but food is my passion. I had a short-lived Micro Potato Chip company named Jersey Flavored, which featured native flavors such as Disco Fries, Texas Weiner, Boardwalk Pizza and Green Diner Salad. My desire for all things food & drink still burns and, along with my wife, we have traveled to sample the foods I read about as a kid. I am Jersey through and through and feel very qualified to represent the best aspects of the state’s culinary past, present and future.