Get Cookin' with ... Chef Jaime Laurita

"Quite honestly, food was the only thing that would quiet the storm of the day-to-day drama that comes along with a big Italian family," says celebrity Chef Jaime Laurita. He was the eighth of 11 kids born into a proud working class Italian family and his love of food came about simply because it "brought him peace."

In the Laurita household, grandmothers, aunts and friends filled the kitchen, "constantly cooking." He remembers his mom's "grilled" cheese sandwiches that she made on an ironing board by running a hot iron over tin foil-enclosed cheese sandwiches. She was a creative floral designer, artist and decorator too, all skills Jaime obviously inherited. 

All of the siblings grew up well adjusted and leading their own lives thanks to a loving, caring family. Jaime's sister, Caroline Manzo, became a Real Housewife of New Jersey, along with several other family members. Chef Jaime and his now-husband Rich Lane even married on the show in 2012, becoming one of the first gay marriages ever to be broadcast on national television. 

He has worked for some of the world's biggest entertainers—Madonna, Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Barry Manilow, Sarah Mclachlan, Josh Groban and more. One of his fondest memories was appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show when Steven Tyler surprised him with a song about him that he played on his ukulele live from Hawaii.

"Most of my memories come from a tour bus window,” Jaime said of his life on the road with the stars. “It was absolutely incredible seeing the country and truly the world many times over. I have been to pretty much every country that a band can travel to and had one of the hardest jobs on the road. It's gorilla catering and long ass hours. You're always rode hard and hung up wet. There's no such thing as the word 'no' in rock n' roll."   

When it comes to food, he loves it all but has master's certificates in Italian cuisine. He graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and also loves Asian, Indian and Latin dishes. He believes that your own energy should always be your main ingredient and says, "Never approach the stove or cooking angry, it transfers to the food." 

When he's not whipping up delicious dishes, he can be found designing showrooms for his company Middleby. His team just won a prestigious award for its Dallas showroom that he designed with another one planned for the Merchandise Mart. He also loves co-hosting a podcast called "Kitchen Chat" with his friend Margaret McSweeney. And through all of this, he still finds time to inspire young adults through motivational speaking.

Jaime is a true Renaissance man who can do it all, but we happen to be particularly partial to his unmatched cooking skills. Check out one of his favorite comfort food recipes for meatloaf, as well as his top tips for wannabe chefs.   

Chef Jaime Laurita's Meatloaf

• 2 lbs - lean ground beef

• 3 tablespoons - fine chopped onion

• 1 cup - fine chopped tricolor peppers

• 1/3 cup- ketchup

• 1 teaspoon - garlic chopped or pureed

• ½ cup - grated parmesan cheese

•1 tablespoon - stone-ground mustard

•1 cup - breadcrumbs (seasoned)

• ¾ cup tablespoon - sriracha sauce

• ½ cup of water

• 1 rounded tablespoon of salt

• ½ tablespoon ground pepper

Glaze meatloaf with ketchup before baking in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes until internal temp reads 160.  

Chef Jaime's Laurita's Top Tips for Wannabe Chefs

1) Cool with reckless abandon.

2) Change out your spices, they can get rancid.

3) A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife.

4) Never approach the stove or cooking angry or upset. It transfers to the food.

5) Take out and support your local restaurants at least once a week.

6) Buy organic or local if you can.

7) Above all, learn and download your family recipes.

8) Always cook with love and play music while you cook. 

9) Always try a new dish.