Photo by Robin Jolin

Aida Mollenkamp

I am a culinary curator for today’s taste hunters.

Philosophy

My mission is to inspire creativity in the meals you craft, the gatherings you design, and the food adventures you embark upon.

To me, life becomes more fulfilling when I build meaningful relationships with my friends, neighbors, and community. I believe everyone has something to teach as well as something to learn, so I encourage you to create, explore, and share the ensuing adventures.

When it comes to the kitchen, I operate on the belief that food tastes better when it’s prepared by hand and made with healthy, whole ingredients. I value the rich heritage of the artisanal culture and the effort and skill required to produce each element at the table. I believe a successful meal consists not only of good food, but also thoughtful design, and artful presentation, that together enrich our everyday lives.

Background

I’ve been cooking, eating, and engaging in all things food for over 15 years. As a teenager, I decided to follow my passion and attended Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. There I started dreaming about working for a food publication, so I moved to Paris to hone my kitchen skills at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. My time in Europe included an extended stay in Florence, where I learned to speak Italian, cook the food, and found a more balanced approach to life.

I then came across a New York Times article by David Carr that spoke of a new style of food magazine named CHOW. A few months later, in January 2005, I joined the CHOW editorial team. During my five year tenure, I got my hands in everything from researching and writing to recipe development, food styling, and instructional videos, eventually becoming the magazine’s Food Editor.

Food Network came across my work and from there Ask Aida was born in August 2008. My second show, foodCrafters, first aired on the Cooking Channel in May 2010. In foodCrafters, I leave the kitchen to discover handmade foods from around the nation. I’m currently living in California and working on my first cookbook which is due out through Chronicle Books in Fall 2012.

My cooking style is considered west coast eclectic because I combine fresh, seasonal ingredients with the ethnic flavors of contemporary California. Though my food is rooted in European techniques and Mediterranean ingredients, I take artistic license to mix things up for recipes that are creative, reliable, easy, and healthy.

I’m passionate about giving back to the community and have worked with nonprofits, such as Share Our Strength, to help kids foster a healthy food relationship. I occupy my remaining free time trying new restaurants, building out my home bar, shopping for antiques, and, of course, cooking.