Samual Zajdlik developed a love for cooking as a child, helping his mother in the kitchen. But it wasn’t his first career choice.
“Originally I wanted to do music,” said Zajdlik. “I was playing guitar and singing. I was in the high school jazz ensemble, so I really wanted to pursue that through my co-op but nothing worked out for me.”
He landed a co-op placement with Appetizingly Yours Catering where he trained under chef Brian Schmeler.
“He is a fantastic chef and I learned everything I know from him,” said Zajdlik. “I enjoyed it so much, I asked if I could stay and I branched out to a couple other places part time to get as much experience and diversity as possible.”
He worked in the kitchen at Market Fresh with Connie Raso and at the Joint Café on Cork Street before taking over as kitchen manager and chef for Bite on Cork Street. The catering business grew under his management, and when owner Bobbi Miner-Neal offered to sell, he jumped at the opportunity.
He closed down the Cork Street location at the end of 2013 and reopened in March 2014 at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre on Hwy 6.
Zajdlik developed his love for simple home cooking at a young age.
“Coming from a home with an Italian mother anything that resembles a home-cooked meal is where I’m at,” he said. “There is something so great about mirepoix. That is onion, celery, carrot, herbs and spices. They are used as a start for most stews and soups, brazing liquids and things like that. Pretty much anything you can do in a pot is right up my alley.”
