- Culinary Specialist Michael Barna
Meet Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Michael Barna! Michael conducts Cooking School shows throughout the country, focusing primarily on the Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont areas. “I love being on stage, entertaining and sharing my love of cooking,” exclaims Michael. “It’s all about bringing the family back to the dinner table!”
Michael currently resides in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania with his wife and their two cocker spaniels. Michael earned an Associate of Occupational Studies degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY. Furthermore, Michael’s background includes facilitating private and online cooking classes, conducting local and national television commercials, and competing in national recipe contests. After graduating the CIA, Michael headed to Atlantic City where he helped open three gourmet casino restaurants. And when he moved to Philadelphia, Michael accepted the position of Executive Sous Chef at a prestigious 5 Diamond 4 Star hotel. Michael later became the Executive Chef for a major national gourmet specialty food shop. When not “wowing” attendees at Cooking School shows, Michael loves drumming, motocross, watching classic vintage movies, and enjoying great food.
To learn more about Michael, take a look at some of his answers to questions below!
Tell us something about yourself that very few people know? I am a culinary hand model.
If we were to open your refrigerator at home, what would we find? You would find tons of fresh fruit, great cheeses, olives, great condiments, and dessert wine.
What is your favorite book? Hands down, The Pro Chef.
Do you have any special holiday traditions? What foods were cooked for celebrations or special events? Every holiday I like making special foods from scratch like my family did many years ago. In regards to celebratory or special occasions, I especially enjoy preparing gefilte fish and making a Sadar plate from scratch with horseradish and parsley from my garden.
What was your favorite food growing up? Italian food and Captain Crunch.
When did you start cooking? Who taught you to cook? I started cooking at age 9 and my Nan and my Mom were the ones who taught me how to cook.
Do you remember your grandmother’s cooking? What was her specialty? Very much so! Her speciality was Hungarian and comfort food. It was all comfort food from her loving hands.
Chef Michael, Thank you sooooo much for such an informational class in Saratoga Springs last night. My mom, sister and I utilized this as our “Mother’s Day” time together. We were a few of your V.I.P.’s for the night and had a great time. We certainly felt like VIP’s with the reception and all of the wonderful goodies that were given away. I loved the tips that you were constantly sharing while you were preparing each recipie. I made notes in my magazine as you prepared the recipies so when I prepare these at home, mine will hopefully turn out as great as yours. We were lucky enough to sit in the front center row…..the aromas and smells from all that you prepared were incredible. We are already looking forward to the next class. Thank you again for making our “Mother’s Day” so special!
chef michael
i have attended two of your classes in Saratoga Springs. Thanks for the great tips, and the delicious recipies, plan on making one for dinner soon. Looking forward to a return visit to Saratoga Springs.
Thanks Barbara Smith
Great show….you make it look so easy
Daughter and I enjoyed your show. Sat in the front row of the VIP’s. Loved all the tips and all the dishes you prepared. It was nice that you came in to the VIP’s reception, enjoyed that a lot. Food was great, look forward to that again next year. Have a wonderful time off, see you at the show next year.
I have a very enjoyable time last night is Saratoga Springs! The cheesecake looked AMAZING and I can’t wait to try it out. Thankyou!
I really enjoyed your show. I learned some great new hints on how to do things. The only thing I was disappointed in were the vendors. There were not very many of them. Usually there are a lot more.
Loved your show in Saratoga last night! You make it look so easy and enjoyable!
Michael, I really enjoyed your cooking class in Saratoga Springs last night. Not only was it informative, but the food smelled wonderful and the time spent was really such fun. I have told my daughters about it and we are looking forward to your next class in Saratoga so that we can attend together. Thanks again for a great evening!
Susan
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the great class in Saratoga last night. The class was very informative, entertaining and the recipes were great. I have been getting the Healthy Eating magazine for a few years, but this was my first time attending one of the cooking schools. I look forward to your next class in Saratoga and I will tell my friends about this event and how wonderful it was.
Thank you for a great evening!
Anne L.
I also was looking forward to more vendors….. I thought because of the size of the City Center there would be more….. Also more food ventors….. I got there early to get a good spot but did not eat until 9:30 when I got home.
I agree – Crazy to think you attended a cooking show and went away hungry.
I was at the show last night and really enjoyed it (along with my friends). The recipes you made looked simple and delicious! I work in a school cafeteria and picked up some tips to help make things easier. The only thing that bothered us was the photographer getting in the way. I know he needed pictures, but the camera he used must have had a zoom lens so it doesn’t seem that he needed to get that close. Great show and looking forward to another one!
Great show. Father of 4. I do all the cooking and shopping. Kids love taste of home recipes.
I really, truly enjoyed your show last night at the Saratoga City Center. It was so much fun and a learning experience as well. The dishes you made were absolutely wonderful. The whole place smelled wonderful. That was my first show, I had never been to one before. My fiance enjoyed himself as well. He thought that everything you made was awesome! I actually won the tickets off the radio. Froggy 107.1 to be exact. I was caller number 3 and got them. I had no idea what I was coming to or anything. But now that I have gone to one…I’d love to come back next year as a VIP! That would be even more exciting!!
You did a truly awesome job last night and so did all of your helpers. After all, we have to give them some credit too. They were truly wonderful! Can’t wait to see your show again!
Hey teresa,
Fantastic you won the tickets caller # 3!! So glad you enjoyed yourself and I always pay a big dept of gratitude for my hard working assistants at every show I go. I could’nt do it without them! Thanks for the kind words and…
See ya on STAGE!
Where can I get that citrus juicer? It is awesome!!!
Hi Donna,
I picked that up at BB&Beyond but don’t forget to go on shoptasteofhome.com for the Silicone Springform Pan and our Multi Grater!
Take care and have a great summer of COOKIN!
My first TOH cooking show was a blast! AND VIP is definitely the way to go! Learned alot, Michael!
Great show, great time! I’ve already been to the market for ingredients, cooking tonight! Looking forward to next year. All of the sponsors did a great job as well! Thank You!
this is the second taste of home show i have been to (saratoga springs) . you did them both. just love the recipes. i have always thought that clarifying butter was much harder. im going to do this. the recipes all looked and smelled great. i will try many of them its just my husband and me now but we have family sunday dinners. please tell us where that juicer and grater and spatula came from. would love to do the vip but daughters say no. 2 of my daughters and i attended and what a great time.
I’m so glad you bought your daughters, just love seeing familys at our shows. Juicer was from BB&Beyond, shopetasteofhome.com for the Multi Grater and the spatula was on Amazone.com. Take care and have a wonderful summer with your family!
Really enjoyed watching you cook last night in Saratoga Springs. Anxious to try each of the recipes you demonstrated. Took lots of notes and thank you for the wonderful tips!!
I tried the Johnsonville
Italian Sausage meatball recipe with ground chicken instead of sausage, and it was fabulous! I have picky eaters, so I told them it was a reverse chicken nugget that likes spaghetti sauce and noodles. Thank you for showing me how to make them Monday night in Saratoga Springs!
That’s it Heidi! I love when attendees tweak the ingrediants to accomadate ther familys needs, we should all take a lesson from you- need a job? Ha-
I attended the show in Saratoga Springs on Monday. I have been attending Taste of Home cooking shows for many years now. There were very few vendors and I believe it is because my husband and I did not purchase the VIP tickets. Last year we attended the Taste of Home school in Gloversville,NY sponsored by Price Chopper, the Leader Herald and Ruby and Quiri and had a wonderful time. The cooking show and tips presented by Chef Barna were great. The vendors and food sampling (which there was only salsa) was very disappointing. Being a subscriber to your magazines for years, I just feel that non VIP tickets holders could have spent more time before the show looking at the vendors. Thank you, Chef Barna You were not a disappointment – just the goodie bags and vendors. Maybe I was just spoiled with all of the previous shows that I have attended in Cohoes, Albany, and Gloversville.
I was a VIP and we didn’t get anything special – you didn’t miss out. I was very disappointed with the VIP reception (food) and would NEVER pay for this again! I enjoyed the show and came away with many tips and ideas. That was worth while – Thanks!
Hi Carol,
VIP tickets and reception are new to our shows and we’ll take all our comments to heart and can only improve on things to come. Glad you enjoyed the show and make sure to go to tasteofhome.com for many other recipes for the summer holidays!
Take care-
I agree. I haven’t attended many shows, but after hearing from many people that there were a lot more things to see and get from other shows, it makes it very disappointing that Saratoga couldn’t do that for this one. Chef Barna was awesome! I enjoyed him very much. Even with handing out prizes, it seemed like it was all on one side. Never changed it up. That wasn’t fair either. It shouldn’t be to the ones who turned their cards in first. I don’t know but it seemed unfair to those of us who came in later.
Teresa Kenyon
Hello Teresa,
I’ve passed all of these blogs onto the Saratogian and we’ll be working hard to have more vendors. We pick our names totally at random and do mix up the tickets so It’s just the luck of the draw. Sorry you did’nt win any gifts. I hope you’ll come to another Taste show and hope you have a great summer!
I appreciate your feed back and will make sure to get your comments back to the Saratogian. We work hard every season to improve aspects of our shows and am alreadt working hard for our fall season. Have a wonderful summer and keep COOKIN!
I really enjoyed the show in Saratoga Springs. Can’t wait to try those recipes
Loved attending the show in Saratoga on Monday. I brought my mother-in-law for a Mother’s Day surprise and we had a ball! We both agreed that we could listen to Chef Michael for hours. I learned a few new cooking tricks (as well as some mistakes I habitually make) and was inspired to drag out my food processor a little more. I can’t wait to try out some of those great recipes this weekend! We will certainly attend another show next year or whenever Michael returns to Saratoga.
Hi Tatiana,
Thanks for the kind words and elieve me, I still make plenty of mistakes, I just try not to show it to much. Ha- Don’t forget to go to shoptasteofhome.com for more gadgets I used on stage like the Silicone Springform Pan.
See ya on STAGE!
Great show in Fairless Hills last night – daughter-law, her mother and I attended together. Great Mother’s Day gift. My hubby will love Johnsonville Italian Sausage meatballs recipe! Looking forward to the September show in Burlington, NJ.
My husband and I went to our first taste of home show last night in fairless hills. We had a great time can’t wait for the next time you come to town. We did not know what to expect. Next time we know to eat before we go. Overall we enjoyed the night out.
I agree! The show in Fairless Hills was great and Chef Michael was very enjoyable to watch and listen too. I thought there would be more food tasting. We didn’t eat before we went and after smelling all that delicious food cooking we all were starved. They should sell food at the venue. They could have had the student chefs cooking and selling food to make some money for the school
Hi Debbie,
Everyshow is a little differant in each town but we use these blogs as a berometer as how things went so I’ll pass this on. We don’t sample from stage due to the increase in food allergens around the country so we try and get restaurants and food companies as local vendors to sample.
Take care and have a great summer!
Great Show in Fairless HIlls last night, It was a Great Mothers Day Gift from my daughter. Had VIP tickets, couldn’t sit in that section (not enough seats for VIP ) will go to the Fall show general admission, Michael the Chef was GREAT! Loved the show , recipes and staff! Can’t wait to make the Johnsville sausage meatballs, also that scrumptious looking cheesecake, mm mm
WOW !! We had a wonderful time last night, at Fairlesshills Tech School. Enjoyed the 10 dishes you prepared. Was really impressed that you used the students as your assistants and treated them with respect… Great Chef Michael !!! What a great example to those future chefs and a GREAT Teacher. Everything was handled so smoothly, Also enjoyed the VIP privilages, worth the extra $’s so glad you included that perk, the food was delish and the seating wonderful second row, WOW!.. Spent an hour or more going through the goodie bag, cook book, two mags, multi coupons looovved it! Hope to see one of your get togethers next season..
Thanks for your kind comments Hunnybea!
Just go to tasteofhome.com and click on cooking school tab, find a show. We’ll be posting when and were our fall shows will be by the end of the summer.
Hope to see you from STAGE!
I agree with the other posters above (Debbie and Dot), had I known there wasn’t food, I would have had dinner first. Yes, the idea to have the students cook and sell, great!!!!
That being said, the show was great, Chef Michael really drew you into what he was doing and the little side hints were appreciated. The woman from the Courier Times was a great presented. The other man, I forget his name, was quite annoying.
We will absolutely be back at the next local show in September.
Thanks for your comments and kind words Ann, I’ll make sure to pass these on as good examples for our next show.
Take care and see ya on STAGE!
I had an AWESOME time at the Fairless Hills show at BCTHS! The tips and ideas were well worth the price of the ticket. PLEASE come back to Eastern Penna or Central NJ SOON! The show was well beyond what I expected! I cant wait for September!
I had a GREAT experience on my first time going to a Taste of home cooking show. The Bucks County Technical High School in Fairless Hills, Pa. did a vantastic job of setting everything up. Chef Michael was great at showing everyone how to prepare many meals and gave great tips on how to prepare and cook many dishes which they gave away at the end. I will certainly be using the new tips I learned at the show as they were great time savers. And the Courier Times people that hosted it were great also. Looking forward to going to my next Taste of home show in Burlington, NJ. in September for the fall recipes.
Please come back again soon to Fairless Hills Chef Michael as you made the show wonderful and most enjoyable !!
Thanks Teresa,
I had a wonderful time and was treated like one of the family. Please bring your friends to Burlington, NJ. and we’ll all have a grand time!
Take care-
My first Taste of Home show,and I loved it! Chef Michael, your tips were great – especially the one about 3 layers for Phyllo. I always thought all those recommended layers is recipes were too much, and I would eliminate one or two, and I am glad to know I only need three! Was in the VIP section, and it was more than worth the extra money. The food prepared by the school for the reception was great! My only comment is fo the Courier-Times to just give prizes by drawing the names of attendees and not giving to those who have toothpaste or Army knives in their purses. Everything else was A+. Thanks to Chef Michael, Taste of Home, BCTCS, and the Courier Times for bringing this to Fairless Hills! I am looking forward to the next one!!
Hello Diane,
So glad your a Phyllo Phan, Ha- The “Let’s make a deal” game was just a fun preshow activity that some shows do. Hope to see you next show season and bring your friends!
Take care and see ya on STAGE!
Show in PA was great! Glad you are coming to our area and looking forward to September. Michael was the perfect blend of chef and host. Non-cooking parts of the show were a little unorganized. Should have given out the gifts sooner and started the show earlier. I agree with others that we expected more food samples. But loved it and will attend again.
Had a good time at the show in Fairless Hills. Paid for the VIP tickets and it was worth the price. The show could’ve been shorter. Thought it was a perk to get to enter as a VIP a half hour early to shop the vendors. This would’ve been great, had there been more booths to go to. The VIP reception was ok, but there wasn’t enough seating and the food wasn’t replenished. I was at the end of the line and didn’t get to try a canoli which I was really looking forward to. Everything I tried though was very good. I especially enjoyed the shirmp scampi. YUM! Courier Times hosts seemed very uncomfortable. The handing out of the door prizes wasn’t handled properly. Chef Michael however was awesome! The cooking lessons were very enjoyable and I learned a a few good tips. I had given up on Phyllo dough but after listening to Chef Michael’s tips, I’m going to give it another shot. All in all….Taste of Home, great job. Courier Times folks, need some practice.
Thanks for your comments Stacie,
That’s why I ask for your comments, only to better our shows. This was the first time in Fairless Hills, Pa. and we can only learn from past shows to improve. Our shows are always the same 2.5 hour time so that’s to fit in 10 recipes and give away the 50+ gifts during the show. Please come to another upcoming show and I’ll make sure It’s the TOPS! Keep working on the Phyllo, I know you’ll master it.
All my best and see you on STAGE!
Hi Michael,
Really enjoyed your show in Saratoga Springs! Thanks! Your stopping by the VIP room before the show was very much appreciated. Not sure if we would spend the extra $ to do the VIP again, but the food in the room was great! It was odd that there were so few tables set up in the huge VIP room. Hopefully, there will be more vendors next year…The Saratogian certainly got the word out that encouraged vendors to sign on. Your presentation was delightful, and we enjoyed your wonderful sense of humor. I looked at the shoptasteofhome website, and couldn’t find the salt & pepper mill that you used. Can you tell me where I can find it? Thanks!!
I won a prize in Saratoga Springs. The cork was missing and I was disappointed. I sent a quick email to the Board and today I received a cork in the mail. How awesome!!!!
Loved the show but would like a fuller bag and food vendors next year. Also, I think the seating in Gloversville was better, because it was in levels. I am short and I had trouble seeing everything, even with the large screens.
Chef Barna is very informative and fun. The recipes were great and very usable. Keep up the great work!
Hi Ellie,
Glad you enjoyed the show. Every venue is different from high schools to casinos to theaters so it all depends on what town and venue. Make sure to visit tasteofhome.com for the upcoming holidays for some really great ideas.
Hi Michael,
I’ve been looking for the dual salt/pepper grinder you used at the TOH show at Saratoha Springs. Found one on Amazon, but the reviews were not so good. Where can I get one loke the one you use. Thanks!
Hi Eileen,
Go to organizeit.com and see the one i use from stage. Reviews have been mostly positive and i’ve not had any problems with mine in over a year.
See ya next spring!
Chef Michael, I attended your show April 28 in Corning, NY. It was my first time attending and I LOVED it! I loved your helpful hints you extended during your show. The Corning Glass Museum stage was perfect for your show. The recipes were great and have made several since! This will be a new tradition for me! Thank you.