Happy Chef Blogging Friday
He has traveled around the world and worked for celebrities like Patti LaBelle and Luther Vandross. He studied culinary arts in Germany and Austria in addition to being interviewed for Time magazine. Surprisingly, he didn't originally intend to be a chef but a hairstylist.
Growing up in Palmetto, Chef Joe Durio first started cooking as a hobby learned from being a picky eater. It wasn't until he moved to New Orleans and started participating in European cooking festivals that he realized his passion for great cuisine.
...After Hurricane Katrina, Durio is back in Opelousas cooking for the Opelousas City Council, Mayor Anna Simmons, St. Landry School Board and Opelousas tourism board to name a few.
He feels his cooking has reached celebrity status because of his personalized service.
"Every dish is personal it just depends on what the customer wants, I treat everyone like a celebrity," Durio said.
Besides his award-winning dishes, he also praises his seafood pasta, eggplant, and fried catfish. Durio is unique because he also can cook diabetic and low-salt dishes.
"I don't use anything with shells or bones because I cater to all ages because children and some senior citizens have trouble with those things," he said. " I will use crab meat instead of crabs or boneless chicken to make everything easier."
Durio is even collaborating with doctors in Biloxi, Miss., at the Wellness Foundation to help create low-carbohydrate meals that will prevent obesity in children.
Not only has he worked for celebrities and doctors, but he has catered for Fortune 500 companies worked in nine countries while owning restaurants in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and New Orleans.
The most surprising aspect is Durio works alone. He wants personalized service to make sure everything meets his high standards of excellence. - The Daily World
