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Angela Baldanza Wins Food Network Cooks Vs Cons

Cover Image for Angela Baldanza Wins Food Network Cooks Vs Cons

Huge congratulations to Angela Baldanza, owner Baldanza Café who recently cooked her way to victory on Food Network’s Cooks vs Cons. The culinary competition, hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, sees talented home-cooks go up against kitchen professionals. Culminating in a blind taste test, to prove who has the best dish. Angela remained focused and calm and won the prize with her rack of lamb dish, followed by a French toast and caramelized apple dish.

Angela, who lives in Pound Ridge, New York has run Baldanza in New Canaan, Connecticut with her family for the past 3.5 years. She is a self-taught, instinctive cook who excels at creating organic soups and dishes, fresh salads and baked goods. Angela believes she inherited her skills from her grandfather and brother, who were both chefs. With family from Genoa in Northern Italy and down South to Calabria, she was locked in to family traditions, such as the dried mushrooms arriving from Italy in a cheese cloth sack, allowing her Grandmother to make yellow rice (risotto flavored with saffron). 

Before getting into hospitality, Angela was in the fashion industry, with a career spanning 25 years. Her mantra is “food is the new fashion”, as she believes there is an affinity between the two. 

Angela has done numerous local TV cooking spots and is very comfortable in front of the camera. She credits that to her experience in fashion – at the top of her career she was an Executive VP Merchandising for the Jones Apparel Group.  Angela concludes: “My mentor has always been Ina Garten. I idolize her and respect how she has built up her brand. This win is so exciting giving our brand more exposure. My goals going forward are to complete our cook book, build baldanza soup kitchen and continue to produce simple recipes using good clean food from sustainable resources.”

‘Tis the Seasoning episode was judged by Ted Allen and Daphne Oz, to view upcoming airings visit: http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/cooks-vs-cons/300-series/tis-the-seasoning.html

The Baldanza's share a passion for creating all-natural, delicious meals for the discerning diner. All ingredients are natural, organic and local when available. I'm sure Connecticut and New York State are very proud.

If you would be interested in receiving the recipes please leave a comment below.

Baldanza Café, 17 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 / 203 966 4000 http://www.baldanzabc.com