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SALEM – For Taste of Home culinary specialist Eric Villegas, cooking is “all about enjoying yourself in the kitchen.”
“I want people to understand, it’s easy to put together good food for your family that’s delicious and economically feasible,” he said.
The Michigan resident shared his culinary secrets, demonstrated how to make some delectable dishes and had some laughs with the audience at the Seventh Annual Salem Taste of Home Cooking School held Thursday night at Salem High School.
“Don’t be scared. We’re not saving lives, we’re just making food,” he said.
Villegas attended two culinary schools in Paris and continued his studies at the New England Culinary Institute. He owned two restaurants, wrote two cookbooks and became a television personality with his cooking show, “Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas,” earning two regional Emmy awards.
His advice for cooks is to just relax and have fun in the kitchen. From his makeshift counter and stovetop on the SHS stage, he showed the audience how to make a variety of recipes, such as chocolate chip walnut bacon cookies, double layer strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and turkey club roulade.
Sponsored by the Morning Journal, Salem News and The Review, the popular cooking school gives home cooks a night out to hone their skills and benefits the Newspapers in Education program, which provides newspapers to area schools.
“Not only is it a good community event, but it’s important to educate the young school children to read newspapers,” Salem News Publisher Beth Volosin said.
For area residents who like to dabble in the kitchen, whether experienced or not, it’s a chance to learn some tricks of the trade or get new ideas for recipes to try out on family members.
Salem resident Eugenia Tullis attended for the third time and even bought a cookbook this year from Akron Children’s Hospital, with the money providing toys for children.
“I enjoy the show. It’s something for my friends and I to do together. I like the recipes,” she said.
She also likes trying out the products in the goody bags, which contain items donated by area businesses.
This was the second year for Rogers resident Dennis McKenzie and his wife Jane. They snagged the front row because Dennis wanted to be able to see everything the chef was doing. As a retiree whose wife still works, he’s the cook of the family and has dinner waiting when his wife walks through the door.
“I can pick up new recipes and new tips that I can use when I cook at home,” he said.
He used some of the recipes he learned last year, but when it comes to chili, Dennis concocted his own recipe. He cooks a huge batch for nine hours and gives it away to shut-ins.
“He loves it,” Jane said.
Ohio State student Nick DaLonzo, from Wellsville, was a first-timer at the cooking show and was looking forward to learning some new recipes. At school, he’s a cook at the campus dining hall and actually grew up in a restaurant, the former DaLonzo’s in Wellsville
He said he wanted to learn “some tips here and there and how to make some better dishes. It’s going to be cool to see things I can do on my own time.”
Once again, attendees were asked to bring non-perishable food items as part of Cooks Who Care, with the food to be donated to the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County food bank. Their donation also gave them a chance to win a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer donated by Home Savings.
One lucky person in the audience also had the chance at the “Best Seat in the House,” a patio set donated by Salem Walmart and set up on the stage where they could sit to watch the cooking show, giving them quick access to free samples. After the show, the patio set went home with them.
All attendees received the goody bag stuffed full of items contributed by area businesses and containing the Taste of Home Cooking School magazine featuring recipes used during the program. They also had a chance at 145 door prizes plus special giveaways by Villegas. Master illusionist John Steven Bloom served as emcee once again.
Major local sponsors for the cooking school included: Giant Eagle of Salem, Calcutta and East Liverpool; Papa John’s; Home Savings; Salem Walmart; Grove Appliance; Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley; Sam Pitzulo Homes; and Salem High School. National sponsors for the Taste of Home Cooking School included Torani, Eggland’s Best, Patrick Cudahay, Physicians Mutual and Ortega.
Prior to the cooking school, attendees could peruse the Vendor Show featuring 37 vendors and make purchases or pick up samples.
This year some young people from the ROC of Salem youth program contributed their time and muscle to help vendors set up and help out where needed during the event. ROC Director Eric Hamilton said they like to get the kids out into the community to lend a hand. In May, they helped do some work at the parks. He said the idea goes along with what they’re teaching them at the ROC, to be productive and engage in positive endeavors.
“We’re glad to be here and glad to help out,” he said.
To learn more about Taste of Home, visit the website at www.tasteofhome.com.