New Jersey native and food aficionado Tony Vestal developed his passion for cooking as a kid, mindfully watching his mom use a shoestring budget to quickly prepare amazing dishes for his Dad and four brothers. Years later, he applied those same culinary skills and teamed up with his childhood friend to open Commuter Coffee Shop, serving morning commuters breakfast and gourmet coffee for the train ride to New York City. In 2007, Tony moved to the Midwest, where he enjoys entertaining at his South Side Chicago home and exploring the countless restaurant offerings of the city. His take on food: "My dishes are the result of experimenting with family recipes and from dining on my many travels throughout the US. You cannot be afraid to take risks and tweak an ordinary recipe into something magnificent. It's a great feeling to cook for friends and family and expose their palettes to new, delicious flavors." Tony is currently attending Olive Harvey College, and his hobbies include photography, blogging, hip hop, micro-brews and he's an admitted sneaker fiend. (Web Editor's Note: The opinions held in these blogs are those of the individual and are not necessarily shared by the individual's employer.)