The Kitchen Crew

Preparing for New Years Eve 2013

Five Questions with the Crew

Erik Kleven: Executive Chef/Blogger

Follow @erikkleven

Question #1-How did you get into the kitchen?

I grew up in the restaurant business but mostly worked the front of the house (bussing tables and seating people) at my Dad's restaurants.  I tried college in San Diego and Reno and found to many other things I wanted to do besides class.  When my brother graduated high school we both decided to go to culinary school in Portland Oregon and I have been cooking ever since.  I took a break from the kitchen for a few years and am glad to be back in it.

Question #2-What five things are ALWAYS in your fridge?

1.  Coors Light
2.  Mayo-Hellmann's Best
3.  Famous Dave's Spicy Pickle Chips
4.  V8
5.  Cottage Cheese




Question#3-Favorite and Least Favorite Foods?

Favorite-Cheeseburgers
Least Favorite-Canned Pickled Beets and Cooked Carrots

Question #4-If you could cook for 2 people-one dead and one alive-who would they be?

Alive, I would love to cook for Mark Vann and his crew from when I did my internship for school with them.  They were a great group of chefs that really took me in and showed me how to be a professional in the kitchen.

Dead, this is easy, I would love to cook for my Dad, he was also a HUGE supporter of what I do.  It would be fun for him to see what we're creating now.

Question #5-How do you blow off steam on you time away from the kitchen.

Very rarely do I build up steam in the kitchen, but I love golfing, skiing, going to the cabin and just hanging out with my wife and kids.

Dustin Nord: Sous Chef/Abled Body MFer

Question #1-How did you get into the kitchen?

My first kitchen job was salad and cold prep at the Kahler Grand hotel in Rochester.  The road up to that point had very little to do with food however.  Auto Mechanic, sider, plumber, HVAC, auto parts sales, farm hand to name a few trades that didn’t quite stick. I began working at the ”big house “ after a pretty serious injury in the HVAC field.   I needed some benefits and a friend of mine was working as a dish steward they needed another so I was in, to bring some relevance to the topic I was always in the kitchen hangin with the Kitchen staff and Chefs. one fine  day salad position opened and I traded in my pager for a French knife and I was on my way. As far as encouragement Friends and family were really enjoying my new found passion for food as it became better through trial and error.

Question #2-What five things are ALWAYS in your fridge?

Butter

Beer

A member of the brassica family (mostly for seth my dragon)

homemade jams and jellies

soured milk

Question#3-Favorite and Least Favorite Foods?

Favorite food:   Swine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Least favorite:  durian fruit cake 

Question #4-If you could cook for 2 people-one dead and one alive-who would they be?

I would probably pick Gordon Ramsey so when he started bitching at me about what ever he is always bitching about I could legitimately punch him in the mouth!

Dead?  I would definitely pick my grandmothers its a tie between both. they both passed when I was very young. 

Question #5-How do you blow off steam on you time away from the kitchen.

I like to hang in my shop and weld metal art which is my second favorite artistic medium other than food.  Getting a crew together to crush beers is up there as well, never a shortage of beer crushin in my life.  

Katie Merten/Miss THANG!!!

Question #1-How did you get into the kitchen?

I got my first job when I was 16 in a grocery store kitchen. At that point I knew I wanted to work with food and it was a good place to start that could easily work around my school schedule. I worked there for about 2 1/2 years and then moved to a different location to start school at a community college. I ended up working in a deli. I worked with a guy who worked in a lot of restaurants in town as a waiter.  He was the one who convinced me that I should go and do what I want with my life. The following year I went to Le Cordon Bleu and received a Certificate in Culinary Arts. I was required to do a 3 month internship and that's how I ended up at Four Daughters.

Question #2-What five things are ALWAYS in your fridge?

1.Apples

2.Eggs

3.Milk

4.Cheese

5. butter

Question#3-Favorite and Least Favorite Foods?

favorite: Gyros

least:  Durian Fruit

Question #4-If you could cook for 2 people-one dead and one alive-who would they be?

Living?

I would choose to cook for anyone who dares to eat my food...

Dead?

If I had to pick anyone to cook for it would be Julia Child. Although I think it would be more fun to cook with Julia Child. She found something she loved to do and was fearless about it.

Question #5-How do you blow off steam on you time away from the kitchen?

To blow off steam I usually listen to music, read, Pinterest. Definitely a fan of Pedicures. Girls nights are always good, I mean I do work with 3 guys...

David Bredesen/The Boy(He's Young)

Question #1-How did you get into the kitchen?

I remember skipping school, going to a friends house to watch TV. only thing on was a cooking show about called food .tv or something. seeing crazy cool food sparked my interest and motivated me to cook.


Question #2-What five things are ALWAYS in your fridge?

1 case of Miller Highlife
2 yellow mustard.
3 sandwich meat
4 butter
5 sriracha 

Question#3-Favorite and Least Favorite Foods?

Favorite food to eat is prime rib and least favorite is spinach.

Question #4-If you could cook for 2 people-one dead and one alive-who would they be?

For an alive person would be Harold McGee. dead is my grandfathers from mother and fathers side

Question #5-How do you blow off steam on you time away from the kitchen?

I enjoy being outdoors. hiking, Frisbee golfing, grilling out, or simply spending time with family and friends. Ice cold beer also helps and farming not bored.