Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Aceto.
Paul, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I believe I got to where I am now all stems from my childhood. For the first 20 years of my life, sports have played a huge role in being an all-state wrestler to playing soccer at the collegiate level (NCCA finals 2001).
Before cooking, being extremely competitive in sports always was at the forefront of my childhood and growing up in the MidWest (Michigan) I was always outdoors playing and being very active.
After finishing college with a bachelors in business, I didn’t know where I wanted to start my career and wasn’t aware that cooking was a serious profession from where I came from. After a little research and some advice from a friend, I checked out culinary school (Johnson & Wales University), where I decided I wanted to pursue my dreams and fulfill my passion with feeding people.
Never being to Europe, I took the first chance to study abroad and I took a culinary internship in Croatia of all places to cook. It was more of a cultural learning experience than a culinary one but met some of the most amazing people whom I still keep in contact with after 15 years..
After returning to the States, I took a position working under Michelle Bernstein, at the hottest restaurant (Azul) inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami. It is where I started to develop my formal training and then worked under some of the best Chefs in Miami. After working through some of the top restaurants – Azul, ZumA, Joe’s stone crab, & Versace Mansion (Casa Casuarina), I decided to cook for people in their homes.
My most memorable time and really set the stage for private dinner parties was working with World renowned Chef Eric Ripert, from Le Bernardin in NYC at a private event in Naples, FL during the South Florida Food & Wine festival.
Since then, I’ve cooked for some of the wealthiest people in the world, celebrities, & and former Presidents of the USA.
One of my most memorable experience was I drove the late Mr. Robert Mondavi (the California wine God Father) to the event from the RITZ Carlton in Naples. Was an amazing man with so much knowledge and advice when I just started my career..
Combining my love for food & fitness has been my secret to success and more people are eating healthy every day and continue to challenge clients to eat right, workout, and live a healthier lifestyle.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being self-employed and running a small business is not easy at all. There are always challenges and obstacles to overcome.
After the economy crashed in 2008, I lost my job and work was scarce for a while but jobs came back and the business grew again quickly.
Now, my biggest struggle is finding the exceptional staff to bring to the table the same passion and customer service I have built over the last 15 years.
Silver Spoon Events – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I like to think of myself not only as a caterer or a private chef but a brand that empathizes in high-end luxury when it comes to eating and entertaining.
From culinary services including catering, private parties, & cooking classes, Silver Spoon Events is setting the bar high to surpass your expectations on food and service.
I specialize in Mediterranean & Asian cuisine personally but have traveled all over the world and have a wide perception of different cuisines and recipes.
I’m most proud as a service provider that I get to meet all types of people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. I feel honored to be apart o people’s homes and spend time with their families and friends. Even if it is just for one evening. Bringing a smile to peoples faces is my most prized award.
What sets me apart from others is my personality and charisma in the kitchen. I treat everyone as if they were in my own home and providing everyone with a warm meal.
Tell us about your favorite and least favorites things about our city.
I love my city (Miami). The energy, the weather, and the people make up what I think is the greatest city anywhere in the world.
With that always comes negativity in any city. But I like to screen out drama and negative energy that can sometimes come to a city that likes to party and is known for a tourist economy.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.silverspoonevents.com
- Phone: 305.389.3009
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Chefpaulaceto
- Facebook: Silver Spoon Events
- Twitter: @chefaceto
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