CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In the year since his time on the reality TV show "Hell's Kitchen," a Charlotte chef is using his celebrity to help several local charities, teaching others how to cook and enjoying life.
Chef Lou Petrozza competed against 14 others for the chance to work for celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. And although he admits it would have been nice to win the quarter-million-dollar salary, losing wasn't such a bad thing.
"It's nice managing myself and not a bunch of other people."
In fact, he's talked to the winner, Christina Machamer, and found out the job wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
"Since then the restaurant has sold. I don't think she loved it. No, who am I kidding? She didn't like it."
But the exposure from the show has helped Chef Lou and several Charlotte area charities. He offered his services to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and during an auction brought in nearly 12-thousand-dollars for two dinners. For the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation he brought in more than four thousand.
Petrozza stays busy teaching cooking classes, working private parties, and taking part in charitable events. He also serves as the executive chef for a sun-dried tomato company.
"You know kitchens are comfortable there's something to do, there's something to talk about there's something to taste I'm very comfortable in the kitchen sometimes when I'm out of the kitchen and I'm talking I'm not quite as comfortable."
And as many people prepare for Thanksgiving dinners, keep in mind some of Petrozza's advice. First of all don't be afraid to experiment when you are cooking.
"If you like the flavor then chances are good that it's going to work with it and in moderation, in moderation, everything in moderation. Cooking, it's a visual and it's a taste thing," Petrozza says.
Interestingly enough Chef Petrozza does not cook that much for himself.
"You know why I don't cook for myself because there is nobody to have fun with when I'm cooking by myself. It's kind of like going to the amusement park by yourself I mean how many people do that?"
So the man who's paid well to cook for others eats out a lot.
"I like the Thai Taste place on East (Blvd.). I like Sullivans, but Ru Sans for lunch what is it like $9.95, $10.95 for the all you can eat sushi buffet? That's one of the Charlotte must-dos. I can't even eat sushi anywhere else."
And at some point in the future Chef Petrozza might have his own Charlotte restaurant. He used to own a deli and run a catering company on the Outer Banks. He says if he can find the right partner he might be willing to go back into business.
