How do you woo an Iron Chef? Alex Guarnaschelli’s fiancé,
Michael Castellon, has just the menu.
o or
lex Guarnaschelli and Michael Castellon owe
the start of their relationship to a perfectly
cooked steak. The Iron Chef was dining with
friends at Almond in Bridgehampton, NY, and after she
was blown away by her entrée, the waiter, who is a
friend, invited her to meet the chef. “Something told me
I should go,” Alex says. “The kitchen was small but had
great aromas. The chef in question, Michael, turned
around from the fryer and the rest is history.” Food is
still at the center of their lives and relationship, so for
their first Valentine’s Day as an engaged couple,
Michael dreamed up a menu for Alex that he knew
she’d love. He incorporated some of her favorite
ingredients and created dishes that would make her
smile, like a spin on eggs Benedict where he rolls the
English muffins super thin to get them crispy. “I knew
Alex would appreciate this special touch to a classic
dish,” he says. And he made plenty of coffee, of course.
“Drinking coffee is a hobby we share.”
—Erica Finamore
“
”
I think the most
romantic things
are a surprise.
—ALEX
P
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J
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M
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;^
FOODSTYLIN
G:^ MICHAELCA
S
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ELLON.JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 ●FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE 79