Chef Michael D’Angelo and Chef Luigi Baratto working side by side again 37 years
Chefs on a Mission
By Lindsay Kirkland
Chef Michael D’Angelo and Chef Luigi Baratto first met 37 years ago when the Rams Head opened up in Galloway in 1987. Michael was fresh out of culinary school and Luigi was his boss and his mentor.
All these years later, the chefs work side by side again, but this time for Chefs on a Mission. This is a group of some Atlantic City’s finest Chefs who come together to use their skills for good and to give back to their community.
The Atlantic City Convention Center Kitchen was bustling last week as the Chefs spent four days preparing 2,000 top quality holiday meals for those in need. 1500 pounds of tuna were donated by Viking Village, along with 600 pounds of smoked ham provided by Rostelli Meats.
Chef Michael D’Angelo, Chef George Fisher, along with about a dozen other volunteer chefs sliced, sauteed, stirred, grilled and baked in preparation for the holiday meal being offered to anyone in need at three different locations over this past holiday weekend. “Being able to prepare the food here, with the large equipment, was a huge help,” says Chef Michael D’Angelo, the pastry chef at both the Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall. “We really appreciate the Convention Center and CDRA allowing us to use this.”
Together they prepared 80 pans of grilled tuna,10 gallons of Mango Salsa, 76 hotel pans of sliced smoked ham,
20 gallons of pineapple glaze,80 gallons of chicken pot pie, 40 hotel pans of mashed potatoes, 60 pans of stuffing, 30 pans of rice pilaf,250 lbs of green beans,100 doz dinner rolls, 1500 pieces of cake.
The food was donated by local businesses including Valenti’s Bakery, Moon’s, Classic Cakes, Resorts, Sheraton and Academy of Culinary arts and more.
Chef Steven Migiani volunteered for the third consecutive year and said “It gives me great satisfaction to use my skills to help people.” Chef Wolfgang Geckler jokes that now in retirement he “ never worked so hard in my life as he does with the Chefs on a Mission.”
Holiday dinner was served Friday evening, December 22nd at the Salvation Army and at Sister Jean’s in Atlantic City, then again on Monday, December 25th at the Rescue Mission.
Jan Smith of Northfield volunteered to help serve at the Salvation Army along with her husband Greg Smith and sons, Adam and Andrew. “It feels so great to give back to the community and people in need this Christmas season,” said Jan with a smile.
