Today we continue on with our profile of the two co-executive chefs at Antonello Ristorante at South Coast Plaza. Missed the first part? Click here.
Otherwise…
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CHEF GINO BUONANOCE
Favorite music to cook by:
Frank Sinatra.
Best food city in America:
New York.
Favorite restaurant in America:
Antonello.
What you'd like to see more of in Orange County from a culinary standpoint:
More authentic and quality restaurants.
What you'd like to see less of in Orange County from a culinary standpoint:
Restaurant food chains.
Favorite cookbooks:
Il Carnacina.
What show would you pitch to the Food Network?
Molto Mario.
Weirdest thing you've ever eaten:
Donkey testicles.
You're making an omelet. What's in it?
Other then eggs, Parmigiano, Fontina, prosciutto.
You're at the market. What do you buy two of?
Pasta, tomatoes and Italian extra-virgin olive oil.
Weirdest customer request:
Fish topped with Parmigiano.
Favorite OC restaurant(s) other than your own:
Mozza & Royal Thai.
Hardest lesson you've learned:
Being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
What would the last meal on Earth be?
Pasta.
Who's your hero? Culinary or otherwise?
My mother.
What cuisine that you are unfamiliar with would you want to learn more about and why?
Japanese because of its long and interesting history.
CHEF SALVATORE FERRARA
Favorite music to cook by:
Creed.
Best food city in America:
Las Vegas.
Favorite restaurant in America:
Antonello.
What you'd like to see more of in Orange County from a culinary standpoint:
Nice, fine-dining fish houses and good delis.
What you'd like to see less of in Orange County from a culinary standpoint:
Steakhouses.
Favorite cookbooks:
The French Laundry cookbook.
What show would you pitch to the Food Network?
It would be all about fresh and simple cooking.
Weirdest thing you've ever eaten:
Rocky Mountain oysters.
You're making an omelet. What's in it?
Bacon, onion, jalapeño and cheese.
You're at the market. What do you buy two of?
Apple juice for my son.
Weirdest customer request:
We have a customer that comes in every week and wants the lentil soup made into lentil cakes. They love them, so why not.
Favorite OC restaurant(s) other than your own:
B&B in Las Vegas.
Hardest lesson you've learned:
Not to expect that everybody is going to put in the same effort as you.
What would the last meal on Earth be?
My dad's Christmas Eve seafood feast.
Who's your hero? Culinary or otherwise?
Pat Tillman.
What cuisine that you are unfamiliar with would you want to learn more about and why?
Korean. Currently have been eating a lot, and I love the flavors.
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.