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Catamarans Seafood & Steaks Welcomes Celebrity Chef Robert Hesse

By Chef Robert Hesse

Chef Robert Hesse found his love for cooking as
a boy growing up in Long Island, NY watching his grandmother and mother in the
kitchen. Challenged by an emotionally unstable
up-bringing and lacking a positive male role model Robert’s life was spiraling downward and
his passion for cooking undeveloped.
Often finding himself in the presence of a judge, 15-year old Robert was sent to
Eckerd Academy in Brooksville, FL to put his life back on track. Eckerd Academy, an outdoor program for troubled youth, changed his life.
At Eckerd, the teens receive alternative
schooling, therapy and learn life skills. Once a week, the kids are responsible for preparing the meals for the day.
One morning, a camp counselor handed
Robert a potato and a peeler and asked, “Do you know what to do with that?” For Hesse, the opportunity to prepare those weekly meals gave him a new found sense of direction in his life and Chef Robert Hesse was born.
After his Eckerd Academy experience, Robert had some struggles with readjustment back into everyday life. Reflecting upon what he learned at Eckerd, combined with some “tough
love” from his mother, Robert picked himself up by his bootstraps and turned his passion for cooking into a career.
One day, 20-year old Robert heard a radio spot for a culinary school in Lakeland, Florida. He quickly signed up, obtained financial aid, hopped on a bus and off he went to take his dream to the next level. After receiving his degree in Culinary Arts, Robert embarked on a 22 state culinary pilgrimage, working at numerous hotels and resorts under some well
known chefs, sharpening his kitchen skills, as
well as, finding himself and defining his unique cooking ideology in the process.
In 2005, Robert returned home to New York as the Executive Chef of Q Restaurant in Quogue. Robert then brought his “Strong Island”
street-honed personality to the hit FOX reality show, Hell’s Kitchen and into the hearts of
America as Season Five’s overwhelming fan favorite. A health issue forced an early exit for Robert from the show, but most, including host, Chef Gordon Ramsay, thought that Hesse would easily glide into the finals. After the completion of Season Five, FOX was flooded with over 60,000 letters and emails in support of Robert, urging the network to bring him back.
As Season Six premiered on July 21, 2009, the fans’ urges were answered as Robert was brought back as a contestant on the show in a huge surprise reveal. Robert Hesse is the Executive Chef of Georgica Restaurant in The Hamptons, partnering up with Hell’s Kitchen
mate, Seth Levine and continues to do
personal appearances, cooking demonstrations
and autograph shows and makes a yearly trek to Eckerd Academy to give back to the institution that changed his life forever.
Since December, Chef Robert Hesse has taken over yet another kitchen, Catamarans. Not only has Hesse brought an entirely new fine dinning experience to the island, but because of
admirers throughout Southern Maryland, he is now offering private cooking classes which can be booked at home or on site at Catamaran’s.

About Chef Robert Hesse

Recipe for Fun
Hands-on cooking parties with Chef Robert
provide an interactive activity for celebrating
birthdays and bridal showers.
Chef Robert and his culinary team organize
hands-on cooking parties in your home or in his
kitchen at Catamaran’s. Students learn how to
cook from scratch, using the tools you have in
your home. Customized menus are designed for each occasion and can range from gourmet cooking to superb Super Bowl party snacks. You and Chef Robert will create a perfectly themed menu for your party.

Book Your Cooking Party Today
$49.50 per person
(2-hour class includes all food, wine, staff and take home recipes)

410-326-8399

Pre-Valentine’s Day Cooking Parties
On the Menu: Guy Food... the way to your man’s heart.

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