Page 9 - February 2020final

“On her farm, I’d eat whatever she Mistakes and life’s challenges— His BLT Steak restaurant biography
grew out there. No washing things including working with a broken an- credits renown D.C. chefs Jeffrey

off. I’d just go on and pick the blue- kle at a restaurant in Hawaii—didn’t Buben and R.J. Cooper from Vi-
berries and eat them fresh. I’d eat the stop Mike from pursuing his goals. dalia—where Bonk got his first job—
peas she grew out there, too,” he Rather, it was the lessons he learned as well as Chef Nicholas Stefanelli
says. all throughout life, culinary school for influencing his cooking style and
philosophy along with his grand-
Sometimes though, he’d get a bit car- mother.
ried away. My first culinary
‘blunder’ was Chef in Charge
“My grandma would grab the fire His life now as the Chef de Cuisine is
hose, turn it on and spray me with topping an Ellios still as busy as it was when he began
water so I wouldn’t eat it all!” his chef journey 15 years ago.
pizza with
These fond memories of Mike’s early cinnamon as a kid! “Even though I’m the boss now, I
years created his love for food. It did- still sometimes work seven days a
n’t matter if it was cake or kielbasa. week. I have 15-, 16- or 18-hour days
Food was made from scratch and still. I still help in the kitchen because
from whatever his grandma grew and and knocking down doors at restau- it’s about creating the best experience
canned in season. He eventually ex- rants to learn the craft that helped with fresh food. I just love what I do
perimented with cooking for himself, Bonk’s career and reputation soar. each day,” Bonk says.
although he made some blunders
along the way. “I looked for someone who knew Please bring any potential stories by
more and wasn’t afraid to ask for ad- and about residents at WAL to the
“My first culinary ‘blunder’ was top- vice. I had a group of mentors experi- Resident Services office or email
ping an Ellios pizza with cinnamon as enced in the industry who gave me commgr@watergateatlandmark.com.
a kid!” Mikes says with a chuckle. advice,” he said.

February 2020 Wheel Page 9