Chef Thomas Andresakes

When it comes to dinner service for big crowds, Chef Thomas Andresakes started young. Really young. He could barely reach the counter when he first remembers helping his parents cook a Thanksgiving feast, complete with a perfectly cooked turkey and all the fixins. Chef Tom always saved a spot for the stuffing, with morsels of bacon, onions, and raisins folded in.

Fast forward through a few decades and kitchens from New Jersey to Florida, Chef Tom has taken his passion for layers of flavor to the next level. He believes in letting his food speak for itself, through exceptional cooking technique. A lover of all things braised, he points to lamb shanks as a contender for his personal favorite. “It's all about how you build layers of flavor with each step of the process,” says Chef Tom. “Low and slow!”