01/24/2021
This day seven years ago.
THE THIRD DEGREE - In only our second ever Cecil Brunch Club event in April, Cynthia's, A Taste of Puerto Rico, co-owner, Frank Sepulveda and his wife Mindy, gladly hosted our visit. Afterwards, I had this idea for a 10 Question and Answer interview with our local executive chefs and owners. Upon browsing the internet, I found that I was not the only one to do a Q&A. Today I caught up with Frank after a long and busy day for him at Cynthia's where we sat down at a table and I gave him The Third Degree.
1 ) What three ingredients can't you live without? "Garlic, salt and pepper. There's actually five, oregano and onion powder. I need that stuff."
2 ) What was your favorite food as a kid in Brooklyn, New York? "I'd have to say the roast pork. We used to make it on a holiday when we could afford it. It was expensive. You slow roast it in an oven for six hours and it was fall off the bone. Then the crunchy skin on top is the best."
3 ) When your not at the restaurant, where can we find you? "Hanging with my son (Brandon) on the baseball field."
4 ) Do you try out entrees on your family? "All the time. Mindy and I have been married almost 20 years. We've been cooking for 25 years. I've been cooking since I was nine years old. They (family) are actually the best critics."
5 ) If someone were to take you out to another Cecil County eatery, where would you want to go? Long pause with hand on chin. "Unwined (North East). I've been hearing that it's a good place. Also Pier 1. Actually the owners came here for the Cubano's, Rice & Peas, Chicken Stew, Cod Fish Fritters and Yuca Fries."
6 ) What is your favorite Food Network show? "Restaurant: Impossible. He (Robert Irvine) goes in there and helps them out with food cost, menu's and fixes up the restaurant."
7 ) What was your first job in the food business? "My uncle had a deli. I started making subs. I just knew then that I liked creating food."
8 ) Which celebrity would you want to cook for? "Marc Anthony. I'd make him the roast pork with rice and beans."
9 ) What dessert would you bring to a potluck dinner? "Flan. It's tasty, it's creamy, it's sinfully good!"
10 ) Who inspired you to cook? "Definitely watching my mom and asking her questions. There was a chef on TV, Chef Pasquale. He was an old Italian chef. He was inspiring. I said one day I want to be a chef."
Note: This winter's events, when the Cecil Brunch Club is too cold to eat ice cream, we will be meeting for soups. Cynthia's will be one of our stops again.
