Episode 212: Michael Poiarkoff

This week on The Main Course, host Patrick Martins welcomes to the show Chef Mike Poiarkoff of Vinegar Hill House. Having been at the restaurant for six months now, Mike shares his experiences so far at the charming Brooklyn spot and what brought him specifically to that kitchen. Patrick and Mike shed light on the somewhat mysterious process of coming into a restaurant as a new chef and “trying out” for the position, with Mike securing his role at Vinegar Hill House by simply cooking his own style of simple, rustic food. Mike goes on to explain his way of cooking with the wood-burning oven at the restaurant and how he, for instance, achieves the perfect crust on a chop. Growing up in a close-knit Russian community in Pittsburgh, Mike was introduced to traditional cooking techniques at a young age and, from the sounds of it, this has given him a unique perspective in the kitchen. This program was brought to you by Rolling Press. “I didn’t attend culinary school, I never worked in a professional kitchen. I had the opportunity to learn from somebody very talented, from scratch… I was pushed early, and that was probably the best way that I could have learned.” [11:39] –Mike Poiarkoff on The Main CourseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.