Eric Villegas

Culinary Specialist Eric Villegas

Culinary Specialist Eric Villegas

Meet Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Eric Villegas!  Eric conducts Cooking School shows throughout the country, from California to New Jersey!  “I thoroughly enjoy meeting so many enthusiastic fans of Taste of Home.  They inspire me with their love and cooking and support for our program,” exclaims Eric. “I also really enjoy the camaraderie that is built working with the local volunteers in putting together the big show.”

Eric currently resides with his wife and daughter near Lansing, Michigan. Eric studied liberal arts at Michigan State University and, after that, he moved to France where he attended Anne Willan’s LaVarenne Ecole de Cuisine and Steven Spurrier’s Academie du Vin. After two years abroad, Eric returned to the States and continued his studies at the New England Culinary Institute. During his long and successful career, Eric has opened two restaurants, written two cookbooks, and earned two regional EMMY awards for his popular television show, “Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas.”  When not putting on award-winning quality Cooking School shows, Eric enjoys spending time with his growing family, exploring regional and local foods of his beloved state of Michigan, and taking in great architecture.

To learn more about Eric, take a look at some of his answers to questions below!

Tell us something about yourself that very few people know?  At the ripe age of 51, I just had my first child, a beautiful baby girl, Sophia Ann Villegas.

If we were to open your refrigerator at home, what would we find?  Not a lot of anything. I like to do my grocery shopping daily.

What is your favorite quote?  “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” — Carl Sagan

How did you develop your passion for cooking/food?  My passion for cooking and food comes from my family.  Growing up in a Bolivian household gave me a wide and varied palette. And my father’s love of great food and wine opened it up even more.

What is your favorite thing to cook versus your favorite thing to eat?  I love cooking fish and shell fish since they generally cook very fast.  My all time favorite food to eat is real American slow cooked pork and beef barbecue. Yum!

You spend so much time traveling the country:  what are some of your favorite places to stop and eat?  I love finding local haunts that are still serving the great classic foods of America, like everything from kool-aid pickles in the deep south to “pasties” in northern Michigan.

What was your favorite food growing up?  I loved fried chicken and continue to crave it to this day! And potato chips!  Love me sum tater chips!

Who was the cook in your house growing up? What was your father’s/mother’s favorite dish to make?  Originally it was my mother but my father took over quite a few times and was an amazing cook. I loved his ceviché of ultra fresh Lake Michigan whitefish. We had it every time we vacationed at our second home at the “tip of the mitt” on Lake Michigan.

40 thoughts on “Eric Villegas”

    • Mr. Villegas, I see that you will be in Hammond on October 6th for your cooking school. The City of Crown Point which is approx 15-20 miles south of Hammond, is have an Oktoberfest and hosting a Chili cook-off at 4pm this Saturday the 8th. I was wondering if you would still be in the area and interested in being a judge. Several of our downtown restaurants are participating in the contest. Please either call me at 219-662-3240 or email me back at dbosse@crownpoint.in.gov.
      Thank you for your consideration.

      Diana Bosse
      Office Manager
      City of Crown Point

      Reply ↓

      • “Thanks for the invite Diana! Unfortunately, my schedule is packed and I will only be in Hammond for about 36 hours. I would have loved to help judge this contest – who doesn’t enjoy a “big bowl of red”?! If you’re doing any future events, please feel free to contact us at Director@TasteofHomeSchools.com and we’ll see how we can help! Thanks so much for contacting me and keep on cooking!”

    • The Johnstown show was so much fun! I never ever won but always have such a good time there. My two friends who are also lunch ladies enjoyed the evening of great laughs and smells from the delicious foods! Please come back to Johnstown!!!!

      Reply ↓

  2. Hi Eric!! Just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful show in Beaver, PA. It was the best yet. I was one of your helpers. It was truly an enjoyable experience. Quick question for you, how can I get a copy of your cookbook? Thanks for your time.

    Reply ↓

  4. Thank you so much for the wonderful show you did in Rapid City last night. You shared alot of information that was new to me and the dishes you prepared looked wonderful. You kept the show very lively with your sense of humor. Come back again soon. Thank you again.

    Reply ↓

  5. I too attended the show in Rapid City, SD. I hope you enjoyed Mt Rushmore! Makes one feel proud, huh? I thought the show was the best I’ve seen and your humor added so much, publishing a cookbook myself I learned alot too! Zibby

    Reply ↓

  7. What a awsome cooking school you had in Plattsburg, NY. Even learned a thing or two. Can’t wait for next year. The rebel in you made the time fly and the show was over way too soon.

    And enjoy your time in Pennsylvania, my home state. Home of the Whoopie pie!!! (just in case you were wondering). I have made pumpking whoopie pies in the past, but now with the ginger. Will have to try that in the future.

    Reply ↓

  8. I have just returned from the Taste of Home Cooking school in Indiana Pennsylvania. I have been to several others but this one was by far the best. Eric was a blast and the whole evening was great. I can’t wait to try some of the new recipes!

    Reply ↓

  9. Chef Eric, I just attended the Taste of Home Cooking school in Indiana PA, It was awesome and I loved all the tips and advice you had for us. I had a question maybe you could answer, I am not yet 21 but there are so many recipes that involve wine (and other alcohol), which I cannot buy. To you have any advice what I can substitue for wine in recipes but still end up with a similiar result?

    Reply ↓

  10. Chef Eric, I loved your show you had in Indiana Pa at the Kovalchick Center, enjoyed learning new recipes and cant wait to try them myself! You were so funny and made the evening more entertaining, I totally enjoyed seeing “Tim McGraw” also…You rocked the house!

    Reply ↓

  14. Attended the show in Greenville, MI on March 8. My girls and I were big fans of “Fork in the Road”, and my oldest was so excited to hear that you would be giving this show while she was home from CMU on spring-break! We were thoroughly entertained. Thank you again for sharing your love of all things “food”. We farm for a living, and your enthusiastic advocacy of Michigan-grown products means so much to us!!!

    Reply ↓

    • it’s always a pleasure to bring our TOHCS to the magical mitt, te gastronomic glove of this great country the great lake state of michigan! that’s for coming out and I hope to be back soon!

      Reply ↓

  15. Eric,
    Loved the show in Granville, Ohio on March 20, 2012. Your extra “ingredients” made the show and the recipes very enjoyable.
    On a negative note–the pre-drawings for the food items were disturbing. Although I don’t “expect” to win anything, it’s a bit disconcerting to feel that things were pre-arranged by the local sponsors. This won’t keep me from going back next year (it’s an annual event for me) but I hope that the local sponsors return to their previous format for prize drawings.

    Reply ↓

    • Judy -thanks so much for writing! I’m so glad you enjoyed the show. I’ll pass your feedback along to our local partner. Again many thanks for your kind words and i hope to see you next time on the road!

      Reply ↓

  16. I had so much fun at the Granville, Ohio Cooking Show. I really enjoyed getting to meet you in the VIP room. Even my husband had a good time. You are so funny and it was a great show. Thank you so much for coming.

    Reply ↓

    • jessica …

      thanks so much for your kind words! it was my pleasure to meet you and your husband. thanks so much for your support and i hope to see you at another show soon!

      - evillegas

      Reply ↓

  17. March 29,2012
    Just finished my first Taste Of Home cooking class. I enjoyed the class and Eric…………and
    I won the cheesecake! I will enjoy using the silicone, glass bottom pan and look forward
    To another class.
    Thank you so much.
    Bonnie Darby

    Reply ↓

  18. OK Mr. Adorable (aka Chef Eric ) I was at the West Palm Beach, FL show last night and I really need to know…….What kind of canned diced tomatoes are the best? :O)

    Reply ↓

    • Deborah!
      deborah!
      so glad you came out to the west palm show! for most of my career I turned my big bolivian nose at canned tomatoes but I have to say after trying the heinz diced canned tomatoes (my pal george duran promotes on the teevee) I became a convert. don’t get me wrong a fresh tomato right from your own garden or local farmers market is always going to be a winner but I have to tell you these babies sure do the trick out of season! thanks again for coming out and i hope to see you on the road someday soon!

      Reply ↓

  19. Hi Eric
    I was one of the helpers in your show in Beaver, PA last fall. I was interested in purchasing a copy of your cookbook I saw on online. I emailed you some time ago. I’m not sure if you got it or not. Let me know if it is still available. Hope to see you this year for a show. It was great.

    Reply ↓

    • hi janet!

      thanks for getting back to me- you guys were great! I’m going to be in johnstown pa next week for our spring tour – if your close by you should come on out!

      you can go here for more information on my “fork in the road” cookbook

      http://www.huronriverpress.com/displaybook/000152/

      thanks again for getting back to me and thanks so much for being a volunteer, as you well know we could never to what we do without all of your hardwork – kudos to you!

      Reply ↓

      • Thanks!!! Johnstown is a little far for me to drive from Beaver, PA. Hopefully, you will be back this fall. Roseanne and I had a great time being helpers. We both tried to email you at the other email address you gave us. She wanted to send you a picture but we don’t think the emails went through. I hope all is well and have a Happy Easter.

  20. Just got home from a GREAT show in Johnstown PA! Thanks for a very entertaining and delicious smelling evening!!! Can’t wait to try some of the new recipes you showed us! Poor Fred will never be the same after tonight ….

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  21. I agree, the Johnstown show was FANTASTIC!! We were in the second row and the smells were amazing, thank Goodness we ate before the show or we would have been starving to death!! Thanks to Chef Eric for making the show so fun and enjoyable!! Thanks to Fred for his sense of humor too – LOL Thanks again Taste of Home for coming to Johnstown, PA, we attend every show you have in Johnstown. :)

    Reply ↓

  22. Dear Eric,
    Hi! Thank you for the most terrific Cooking Show I have ever been to. You made it most informative, very entertaining, and enjoyable. I could have listened and watched you for another 3 hours! Thank you so very much and I do hope you return to Johnstown in the future.
    Sincerely,
    Franie Lechak

    Reply ↓

  23. Pingback: Portobello Salisbury Steaks | Amanda's Cookin'

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