Meet Your Sherpas
Greg Baker, a.k.a Mal Carne
Profession: Ass Kicking Chef by day, Ninja Rock Star by night and occasionally food styling.
Greg has spent more than 20 years in the culinary field. At the age of 12 he started working his way up through the ranks. Graduating from Western Culinary Institute in 1988, he continued his climb to Executive Chef, most notably at the popular trattoria, Tuscany Grill, in Portland, OR. Greg’s recipes have been featured in Food & Wine and Bon Appetit magazines and he has traveled extensively throughout Italy, studying the culture, foods and wines of its different regions. His diverse tastes and extensive culinary knowledge bring flavor and excitement to both the ordinary and extraordinary.
Chef Greg has been featured in Tampa Bay Illustrated Magazine, The Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, and on WFLA’s Daytime. He can be read weekly in the Tampa Tribune’s Culinary Sherpas column along side his beautiful, voluptuous, trophy wife, Michelle.
Michelle Baker, a.k.a The Urban Eater
Profession: Managing Partner of Cooks & Company, Food Writer, Food Stylist
Likes: Kitty Cats, anything Truffle, and Firemen
Michelle grew up surrounded by the sights and smells of her traditional Southern kitchen. At an early age, she was helping her parents prepare seafood gumbo, Yorkshire pudding, Chocolate Éclairs and 100’s of other delights. Michelle is notorious for her appetite of knowledge and anything culinary. She has traveled from San Francisco to Savannah in search of America’s best cuisine. She is the food critic for New Heights Magazine and for Sticks Of Fire.com. Michelle also writes for The Tampa Tribune’s Culinary Sherpas column ensuring Chef Greg doesn’t take it too far.
Photo by JASON BEHNKEN
Stumble it!
Made the absolutely fabulous Blueberry Buttermilk pancakes this AM for breakfast Clipped the recipe from last Sundays Tribune Getaway section.
This pancake recipe is so good. Most are heavy, and require a lot of effort. Thank you so much. Light and full of flavor. Will make many times for sure
Hello and thank you for the killer Gumbo recipe… I like to call these hand me downs heirloom recipes.. and it is too bad we don’t have more of them. I am leaving for vacation at the NJ shore this afternoon and will have access to fresh seafood so this may be made next week for a dinner.. and a fine one it will be with a loaf of crusty bread and some nice frosty brews to compliment.
P.S. I have bookmarked your page and will be dropping by to check in from time to time.. thanks again and catch ya on the flipside…
I enjoyed speaking about delicious food with you both over Halloween this year. I look forward to seeing your column in the Tampa Tribune over the years to come. Heck, I might even attempt preparing your recipes with my limited kitchen skills.
D.N.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the ride home Dan! I was gonna loose my mind if I got stuck there. It was just TOO hot.
Glad you made it home safe and thank you again!
Hey guys! I stumbled across your name in a google search for cooking classes. My husband loves to create fun stuff in the kitchen and I wanted to get him some cooking classes for a Christmas present…do you guys have any classes or do individual sessions??? You seem very fun and creative like us and hopefully it would be a great fit! Let me know
Thanks!
Leah Vanity Moore
Is there an email address that you can be contacted with? Please email me back with this response?