Discover Classes. Earn Rewards.

Mario Scordato

Teaches at The Chopping Block at the Mart

Favorite class to teach: 
Sushi and Knife Skills

Training/education: 
University of Illinois, Landscape Architecture; Art Institute of Colorado, Culinary Arts.

Cooking since: 
Childhood/Professional since 2001.

Favorite childhood food experience: 
Having dinner at Gramma and Grampa's every week.  Every Christmas Eve dinner since I was born.  Slices of fresh, giant tomatoes from the garden with just a little salt.  Summer pig roasts for my sister's birthday.  Eating polenta with our hands off of a board in the middle of Gramma's table. Spending time with my mother in the kitchen.  Spending time with my father in the garden and in the field, on the hunt. Spending two days in the kitchen with my Gramma before I went off to school. Having pizzele and ice cream sandwiches in the middle of the night with Grampa.

What made you want to become a chef? 
See above… no, seriously.

What is your signature dish? 
Hamachi Sashimi with Chile Ginger Soy, Daikon, Fried Garlic and Sea Salt.  I also make a mean Osso Buco with Risotto.

What are the 5 ingredients you can't live without? 
Salt, Pork, Good Stock, Garlic, Vinegars, and of course… Butter.  Can I stick
 Brown Sugar in there too?

What do you love about cooking? 
Making something that other people enjoy and that brings them together.  It is also one of the few things that really utilizes all of our senses. What is better then that?

When you're creating a new recipe, what influences and inspires you? 
Ingredients, Shopping, Seeing what's out there, finding what's new.

What advice would you give a new cook? 
Don't be afraid to get messy, get your hands into your food. It creates a connection to your food unlike anything else.  The first line of James Beard's Theory and Practice of Good Cooking is, and I quote, "Cooking starts with your hands, the most important and basic of all implements."  Also, treat recipes like guidelines, not absolutes, be creative.

Describe your perfect evening. 
A hot dog and a baseball game with the love of my life. ‘nuff said.

If you had friends in from out of town, where would you take them to eat? 
My kitchen!  A good corner hot dog joint. Spaca Napoli, they have amazing Neopolitan brick oven pizza and they brine their own olives.

Where are you from? 
Genoa, IL, but lived in Denver for 8 years.

What was your favorite vacation? 
Ski trip to Colorado, I loved it so much I moved there.

What are your hobbies? 
Woodworking, Fishing, Hunting, Shooting.

What is your favorite band? 
Toss up between Led Zeppelin and the Black Crowes.

What is your favorite sports team? 
Cubbies… duh.

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be? 
Anthony Bourdain.  Talk about total food debauchery!

What are your guilty pleasures? 
ICE CREAM, I would love to meet the person who "invented" it so I can shake their hand and say "Thank You" and then curse them at the same time. Man, I would be 20 lbs lighter if it was not for that stuff.

Who is your favorite celebrity chef? 
Masaharu Morimoto.

What 5 tools should every new cook have in the kitchen? 
A sharp chef knife, a good stock pot, some cast iron (enameled or straight up), a good cutting board, and your HANDS!

What resources would you suggest for Chopping Block clients? 
Traditions, the brains of people that are older then you, The Food Lovers Companion, James Beard's Theory and Practice of Good Cooking, your local Library.

Reviews of Mario Scordato

(1 Review)
  • Couples Cooking: Spring Fling

    Reviewed by Michael H. on 5/23/2015

Classes taught by Mario Scordato

View all courses taught by this teacher

CourseHorse Gift Cards

  • Creative & unique gift for any occasion
  • Thousands of classes & experiences
  • No expiration date
  • Instant e-delivery (or choose a date)
  • Add a personalized message
  • Lock in a price with the Inflation Buster Gift Card Price Adjuster™
Buy a Gift Card
gift card with the CourseHorse logo gift card with the CourseHorse logo
Loading...