Chattin

Chef  Yadiyah Letellier

Bake It Up With: Yadiyah Letellier

Chef In The Making

His name is Yadiyah and several weeks ago I came across photos of his work that were posted on Facebook friend Carla Hall D'Ambra's wall and I was very moved and inspired. Yadiyah is seventeen years old and his life's passion is to become a chef, he is one of 13 kids and is defying the odds. We are honored here at Chattin In Manhattan to interview him as one of our featured chefs. His dream is to attend Monroe College for Culinary Arts and is working on raising funds through grants and loans to attend. He recently won a contest for his Deep Dish Apple Tart dessert. For those who know him, they will tell you that Yadiyah in an inspiration and someone to model their life after.

What inspired you to become a chef?

I always enjoyed cooking and watching my mom cook, and watching the food network but I really didn't look at becoming a chef because I was focused on basketball till my sophomore year in high school.  I then started thinking about my future and I started to taking a cooking class at my local Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club.  I started to really get into cooking and my chef instructor was amazed with my skills. I decided that I wanted to become a chef and I believed that I could really make it as a successful young chef.  I got into the culinary arts skills program at Barry Tech in Westbury, NY, and got a job at North Shore Country Club that summer of 2010 where I started to build on my skills in the kitchen. As I finished up with my 1st year of culinary arts skills program, I started to get job offerings but I decided to play basketball for the summer of 2011. So it got closer to the end of the summer and I got an offer from Glen Head Country Club. I got very excited to get back in the kitchen. Once I met the head chef Clifford Goodman I was set, and he was great guy.

What is the biggest challenge you face to becoming a chef?

The biggest challenge Is in perfecting my dishes, trying to make them over-the-top, and giving the people what they want. Also having to joggle the life of a chef and a basketball player is a real challenge with all the extreme basketball workouts and games. Then comes the crazy chef life with long hours in the kitchen and finally, making all meals “worth the wait” but I'm ready for any challenge thrown at me.

Who is your chef hero?

My Chef at Glen Head Country Club, Chef Cliff Goodman.  He is amazing and he inspires me to be better.  I always look forward to seeing and working with him. I feed off of his energy.  I’m grateful for his guidance.

What is your favorite dish that you make?

I have noticed that I am really into desserts now and I love all the art and passion that is put into the making of a dessert.  My favorite dish to make is an apple tart with a homemade vanilla bean ice cream, homemade caramel sauce, garnished with a chocolate twig covered with almonds crumbs. This is my favorite dish to make because it has all the components that a dessert should have. This is also my favorite dish because it brings a smile to my face every time I make it.  It makes my clients happy, too!  There are so many creative and delicious possibilities starting with a simple apple…

What can you tell others striving to make it as a chef?

Be prepared to work hard, put in long hours, move at the speed of light, and to be able to excel under pressure.  It’s so satisfying to create beautiful, delicious food for others to enjoy…it’s really not work for me.  It’s a way of life.  Oh yeah, wear comfortable shoes.  Sometimes it’s all about the shoes..

Yadiyah's Story

My life has been an unusual journey and I have tried to learn through every aspect of it to give me some sense of direction as to what my purpose in life would be. Every child asks themselves over and over again -- What do I want to be when I grow up? And the list starts being compiled -- a doctor, lawyer, teacher, professional athlete, etc. My list however was diverse and it included; a meteorologist, a teacher, a CSI agent (clearly I watched too much TV as a kid) and lastly a police officer.

All through college and the years following, I worked in the corporate world and was promoted into many different positions, but at the end of the day I was not fulfilled. I spent a good many years working in human resources and employee relations because my true passion was people. Counseling and developing people at work got me through each stress filled year. The stress of the corporate world took its toll on me physically with what seemed like one tremendous migraine headache after another. Then one day in my office during one particularly stressful day I recall feeling dizzy, I lost feeling in my body, and the next thing I remember was I woke up in the emergency room. I knew then that something had to change…

I needed something and I gathered the courage to change everything. I literally hit ‘control-alt-delete’ and rebooted myself. I knew that just like a poorly running computer, I needed better programming. I knew that my past would not equal my future and I started to take charge of my life. I needed the best tools and carefully developed a plan on where I wanted to be and what I needed to do to get there. I hired a results oriented life coach, started using the best self-developmental tools, reclaimed my physical self, put my nose to the grind stone and forged full steam ahead.

Today, I am stronger, wiser, and a different person. I would never go back and change things even if I had the opportunity to do so. It took me a long time to understand why I went through this journey. Then one day it came to me…. I went through this journey to help and support others. I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up but there it was sitting right in front of me, clear as day - a life coach that specializes in real life!

Any woman who has dealt with infertility knows that coping shows up in many different emotions -- laughing, crying, feeling hopeful to depressed -- all in a matter of an hour sometimes even less. The thing is only if you are the woman going thru infertility do you know how this feels -- the rollercoaster ride which you have no control over -- doctor's appointments, ultrasounds, blood work, shots, and of course the emotions that come along with this.

One of the only things that a woman has control of is what she wants to talk about or not. You see everyone wants to be supportive -- spouses, parents, friends, and that is great but ‘note to self people’. Don’t say a word until she brings it up or in some cases chooses not to bring it up at all. Asking how is everything going when she is being poked, prodded and feels like an overstuffed sausage because of all the bloating from medications --- probably not a wise thing to do. Take the lead from her and trust me everyone will be in much better place!

And one last thing -- think before you speak -- saying stupid things like you will get pregnant in time or you need to relax to a woman dealing with infertility will lead to an explosion that you will not be ready to deal with! I call these statements stupid because if you took a moment to think about it telling a woman she will get pregnant in time-- hello she is seeing an infertility specialist for a reason! And then the best one telling a woman to relax -- how can a woman really relax going through all these things? One answer to that question - she can't relax -- just be there for her, think before you speak and chocolate always brings a smile!

Anyone dealing with infertility knows what true commitment it is - the emotional and physical toll it takes on your body, your mind, the doctor’s visits, and the financial burden. And as if dealing with infertility wasn’t hard enough now add work and this becomes a dangerous combination to those who cross your path.

Most people work because they have to not because they want to. Who goes to work because they love their job, enjoy getting bossed around, and then at the end of the week they are thrilled when they see their measly paycheck? Chances are your paycheck is going towards those uncovered infertility treatments and unless you are independently wealthy, work is a necessary evil.

Tuesday night on CIM we are thrilled to welcome international sensation Vince Morvillo.  

This amazing blind man races sail boats around the world in a competitive, high stakes game of skill and technique. He is a man who knows a thing or two about going for it all, crushing fear and living life to its fullest.

Tune in as we dive into his world and discover how nothing holds him back even though he is blind. If want to be inspired this is the show for you.

Listen Live Here On BlogTalk Radio

Date / Time: 2/28/2012 10:00 PM Eastern

Call-in Number: (646) 478-3228

Chattin In Manhattan, Discovering your inner Rock Star!

For more info about CIM visit our website at www.ChattinInManhattan.com

Tonight on CIM we welcome the ever inspirational Jeremy McGhee

In 2001 his world was turned upside down when a motorcycle accident left him without the use of his legs. But for this man, a man who loves to live life on the edge, one accident was not about to slow him down.

Jeremy wasted no time dwelling on what he lost and instead he focused on what he had gained. He started a foundation to help others and went on living life to the fullest.

Tonight we will talk with Jeremy about guts, determination, never being held back and what it takes to overcome anything in your life. 

Join us and an invite a friend to listen to this inspirational one hour special with adrenal junkie Jeremy McGhee.

More on Jeremy McGhee

Listen Live Here On BlogTalk Radio

Date / Time: 11/22/2011 10:00 PM Eastern

Call-in Number: (646) 478-3228

Chattin In Manhattan, Discovering your inner Rock Star!

For more info about CIM visit our website at  www.ChattinInManhattan.com

On tonight’s show Garth Sandiford “DL” and Kim Ward “Chickgab Chick” talk about the 3 Keys to overcoming fear and disappointment in life.

We all have dreams and goals that  we want to achieve in life and when we set out on the journey of achievement you always encounter that evil foe called “Fear and Disappointment” tonight on CIM they will discussing how to defeat, crush, and conquer this evil foe to achieve success in life. CIM is all about discovering your inner Rock Star and becoming your best self.

For more info about CIM visit our website at www.ChattinInManhattan.com

Listen Live Here On BlogTalk Radio

Date / Time: 10/06/2011 10:00 PM Eastern

Call-in Number: (646) 478-3228

Chattin In Manhattan, Discovering your inner Rock Star!

Traveling, 7,000 miles, across America, ALONE, on a Harley!! If I can change, anyone CAN!!

Journey To Change

Afraid to go to the market alone, victim of domestic violence and various addictions, Linda fights back. Linda’s ability to overcome her brutal life experiences, have allowed her to inspire others to conquer their own fears and limitations.  Full of fear about everything and everybody, Linda took her Harley and traveled 6,870 miles across America, ALONE, on her motorcycle.

Join Kim Ward the Chickgab Chick and Garth Sandiford as we welcome Linda Patterson to CIM, to talk about her historic trip, her experiences and motivation as she Journeyed across America without fear. If you have every faced a debilitating fear then this a show that you don’t want to miss!!

Listen Live Here On BlogTalk Radio

Date / Time: 8/30/2011 10:00 PM Eastern

Call-in Number: (646) 478-3228

For more on Linda and her journey!