As the first and only female chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America and executive chef at Bon Appetit, it's only logical that Cat Cora discovered her love of food and cooking at an early age. A combination of the Greek cuisine of her heritage and the Southern spices of her Mississippi hometown piqued Cora's interest in food and influenced her cooking style.
Cora has hosted several Food Network shows, such as Date Plate, Kitchen Accomplished, and The Melting Pot with Rocco DiSpirito. Cora also is the president and founder of Chefs for Humanity, an organization that provides food to people in crisis, administers nutritional education programs, and partners with other hunger-relief organizations.
Q: Why is nutritional education so important at a young age?
A: You have to lead by example, so we eat healthily, and they just naturally follow suit. We love to go to local farmers' markets and always have the freshest organic, locally grown produce on hand. When it is so colorful and readily available, it's hard for anyone to pass up.
Q: What are the creative ways you use to prepare healthy foods that appeal to kids?
A: I always try to allow my kids to take a more hands-on approach in the kitchen with me. If they are a part of the cooking process, they usually are more inclined to voluntarily eat the dish they helped to create, even if it's made of veggies.
Q: What are some tricks that have worked best with your own kids?
A: Always keep it fun and lively in the kitchen, not stressful or off-limits for little ones. The more they are able to help and get involved, the more interested they will be in cooking overall and learning about healthy ingredients and foods. Caje is still too young, but Zoran can bring some pretty hefty competition into the kitchen—he cooks with me nearly every day, and we really enjoy the time spent together.
Q: What is your favorite family recipe?
A: A family favorite is my salmon and scallop skewers with Romesco sauce. This is loaded with fresh grilled veggies and lean protein. You can substitute pork, beef, or chicken if you like, and the Romesco sauce is jam-packed full of flavor and antioxidants, made primarily from vine-ripened tomatoes and roasted red bell peppers.
