Ric Orlando

Ric Orlando brings an inspired blend of lust for life, outspoken passion for the flavors and ingredients of the world community, and nationally renowned cooking prowess to his roles as chef, lecturer, author, and media source. Ric has been preparing and promoting both global and local food for over 20 years. His recipes and commentary are consistently in demand by the regional media. His tireless work in promoting the products, people, and beauty of the region has made him one of the Hudson Valley's leading culinary spokespeople. Ric oversees the kitchens of two restaurants. New World Home Cooking Co. which he owns, is a Hudson Valley community icon with 18 years in continuous operation. New World Bistro Bar, the Albany Gastro Pub he designed and manages, is a consistently local BEST OF winner. Ric's restaurants have won numerous accolades including Metroland 's 25 year anniversary #2 Most Beloved Restaurant, Restaurant most worth taking a drive to, Best American, Best International, Top 3 Vegetarian. The Albany Times Union gave New World Bistro Bar Top Vegetarian and the NY Beef Council awarded Ric's Northeast Family Farm Burger Deluxe the award for Best Burger in the Capital Region for 2011. Ric has appeared on the national stage most recently in 2010 on the Food Network's runaway hit CHOPPED three times, winning in his first appearance "Wok This Way". Judge Mark Murphy declared that Ric's Rum Raisin Jerk Quail was the "Best thing I have eaten on Chopped!" He was then selected to appear in he very first Chopped Champions where he also won in the playoff round, wowing the judges in the dessert round with his humorously innovative concoction Ziggy Taco and the Pear Filling from Mars. Ric was finally taken down in the Entree round of the Grand Finale. He has also appeared over a dozen times on the NBC today show, PBS, NPR, Discovery, Sirius Radio, as well as many other regional media appearances. Ric also wrote and starred in the 13 episode regional Public Television series Ric Orlando's TV Kitchen in 2004. Some of Ric's many public appearances for 2011 include being the keynote chef for high profile events including the Martha's Vineyard Food and Wine Fest, The Chef and Vintner's Harvest Dinner for the Regional Food bank of North East NY, Hudson Valley Harvest at Mohonk Mountain House and The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival. A man with a colorful past, Ric's cultural roots stem from the underground music and art scene through 1980s in New York, New Haven, and Boston where he also gathered his passion for Global flavors eating urban ethnic cheap eats. He developed in his culinary experience at groundbreaking restaurants such as the Elm City in New Haven, (the original) Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Wild Goose in Boston, Sugar Reef in Manhattan, and Yates Street and Justin's in Albany. He has cooked in the kitchens widely of respected chefs Bob Kinkead, Jake Jabobus, and Emmett Fox.