Food & Drink

HogsHead chef credits grandparents for desire to cook

Chef John Pashak of HogsHead Kitchen and Wine Bar
Chef John Pashak of HogsHead Kitchen and Wine Bar Submitted photo

Chef: John Pashak

Restaurant: HogsHead Kitchen and Wine Bar

Town: Bluffton

When did you first know you wanted to be a chef?

When I was 8 years old, I really enjoyed being on my grandma's apron strings, so to speak. That same time, I would also fish with my grandpa, getting our meal and then working with my grandma to prepare it.

What food do you think everyone should try at least once?

My recommended favorite food to try at least once would be a pimento cheese sandwich while strolling down the 18th hole at Augusta National.

Are there any dishes you're currently working on or still perfecting?

I'm intrigued by authentic Indian food, as it involves many different spices with different timings and sequences and would love to learn more about it.

What's been your worst cooking injury?

While at the River Course on Kiawah Island, I pulled a serrated carving knife out of a butternut squash too quickly and filleted my right hand, requiring the island doctor to leave the golf course and put 15 stitches in my hand so I could get back on the kitchen line for a big event. Now I let other people cut butternut squash.

Say you're coming to HogsHead tonight for dinner. What do you order?

It depends on your mood; we've got something for everyone from bar snacks, salads and sandwiches to fresh local catches and hand-cut steaks and chops.

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This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 3:28 PM with the headline "HogsHead chef credits grandparents for desire to cook."

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