About
Hey there, I'm Chef Steff, and this is Tastefully Gourmet Catering!
I’m a chef, caterer, blogger, and teacher. I absolutely love teaching others to cook. That’s because cooking is my main passion in life.
My Journey
Welcome Everyone, My name is Stephanie Apostolou ~ I am an American/Greek Chef born in Philadelphia and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Many family & friends also call me “Chef Steff” and others call me “Chefanie”. I am very excited to intrigue you with my passions! A delicious world filled with not just my passion for Food, but also my passion for Life……..You will learn how to tap into your creativity, achieve your goals and keep a positive attitude with energy and perseverance to embrace a happy life! Plus you will look great and feel great as you learn how the two are connected how they blend into my love of family, friends and laughter!
From Philly to Baltimore:
My Father’s Company transferred our family to Baltimore, MD when I was five. It was very hard for my family because just about all of our close relatives lived in Philly. At 5 years old I had only one living grandparent that I ever had the privilege of knowing. I was so lucky to have my Mother, my Aunt Dolly and my Mother’s Mother Stella-Bella and my Grandmother Pauline Doukakis. All nurturing and teaching me as a young girl not only to cook traditional Greek Food but also explore my passion for all Cuisines of the World! As I go through life I realize just how amazing they were! Moving to Baltimore taught me one of my first lessons in family commitment and support. It was my Aunts, Uncles and all of my cousins that helped us, supported us and loved us during and after our move to Baltimore. My Mom and Dad worked so hard, so the planning and cooking of the family meals became my task… I loved cooking and my passion for food grew……
The Fashion Twist and The Famous Celebrity that Inspired Me to Follow My Dream to Become A Chef……….Changing my Life Forever….
ow you can see just how deep my love of food and life are, but there are a couple more twists about my world you need to know. First of all, I did not attend Culinary School right out of High school, I had another passion that fascinated and intrigued me as well. It was Fashion, as a little girl I was a true fashionista. I loved fashion, every aspect of it.
My first job at 15 was in a clothing store and I became addicted to putting together outfits from jewelry to shoes that made a statement. In fact one of my jobs right out of High School was working at a clothing store named Paul Harris in Columbia, MD. Something happened at that store that changed my life forever. I had the honor and privilege to help put together complete clothing ensembles from head to toe for none other than the incredible “Oprah Winfrey”! You heard me, yes I said Oprah Winfrey! That was back in the 70’s when she was an anchor on our local Baltimore TV Station, WJZTV.
Oprah would come into our store every week and we would help to put together her outfits that she wore during her broadcasts. Our Paul Harris store in Columbia Mall would get the credits at the end of the show for providing Oprah’s wardrobe. She was so kind, so friendly and so down to earth, we all loved her.
Oprah Winfrey had drive and passion, she was positive and motivated to achieve the highest goals she set for herself. She became my inspiration . She took some of our sales staff to lunch one day in 1976. She asked each of us what our goals were for the future and we planned on achieving those goals? I remember as if it were yesterday..When she got to me….I told her my passion for Food/Cooking and my dream to become a Chef!
She Looked me in the eyes and told me never give up on my dreams, set my goals high, persevere and fight to achieve them. Oprah told us to find a way out of life’s tragedies, learn from them, stay positive move forward and educate ourselves and others, especially as women to never give up!
It was Oprah Winfrey that changed my life forever for as much as I loved Fashion, my real passion was becoming a Chef/ Teacher/ Caterer and Philanthropist in the Cooking World. Her motivation and encouragment inspired me to go home and tell my parents to help me find a way to leave the Fashion World and go to Culinary School. As they Say…”The Rest Is History” Forty years later I am living my dream. I continue to follow Oprah, admire her, but most of all Bless Oprah Winfrey for changing my life….I am now a Caterer, I teach Cooking Classes.. I would love to Help Oprah with he Many Charities…Maybe Teaching Cooking Classes to under privileged Children!
Also,because of Oprah”s Inspiration, I have created a Unique Gourmet Greek Granola…Healthy Snacking with Ingreients Inspired by the Snacks my Greek Relatives ate before Granola Bars and Power Bars… I would love to build my sales and donate part of the Proceeds to Help those in Need!
I would Love Oprah to know how she changed the direction of my Life and I would love to tell her in person, hopefully One Day!!
Future Goals and Working with Oprah Winfrey…..
My dream is to have a Television Show where all that view will enter my “Kitchen of Life” and learn not only the skill of cooking but also learn how to conquer every passion by becoming a new and improved person. However, my ultimate dream and vision for the future would be to work with Oprah on her many charities, especially ” The Oprah Winfrey Foundation” the Academy for Girls of South Africa and her Angel Network. Teaching cooking skills as well as self confidence to those less fortunate all over the world! She has become an inspiration to millions of people and I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet her. I love helping and educating others and I donate my time to give cooking lessons and demos to raise money for charitable causes. Church is very important to me and inspires me to help others, be kind, giving, loving and help those less fortunate than myself!
Education: The Culinary Trail
I received all of my education in Baltimore, from Grade School to Culinary School. After High School when Oprah inspired me to follow my culinary dream, I went back to College. I attended and am a graduate of Le’Cole Culinary Arts Institute in Baltimore, MD. I also attended UMBC College for my Associates Degree in Hotel Restaurant Management. During and after Culinary School I worked in many restaurants in Baltimore City. I continued to learn and love Baltimore even more. However, something was missing, I loved cooking in Restaurants but very unhappy making the same menu everyday. So I eventually chose the Catering world where I could be creative and make Culinary Dishes from Around the World….I am now also teaching others to cook with my Cooking Classes and Cooking Parties. The knowledge I have learned and the content of my life reaches for miles and miles. Every experience has become an informative adventure & every adventure has a story behind it.
Enter my “Kitchen of Life” and learn how to “Live the Dream” and become an amazing person inside and out! I know my life may sound like a dream come true and yes I am blessed, but I know rock bottom, I have been there. However, I never forgot Oprah”s words…..”persevere and never give up” I know how to Lead Others into a World where they will Rise and never Give Up!
Tasty Wishes……Chef Steff