People always ask me what my culinary background is. My mom is a great "from-scratch" cook and my dad is a butcher. My parents bought a country restaurant in Branchport, NY when I was 15 years old (and they weren’t stupid; at 15 I was perfect cheap child labor!)

It was here where I learned about hard work and the dedication that it took to run a small family business. After college, I had a little 150 acre sheep farm in Ossian, NY where my four children and I (check out that free labor force!) raised, amongst other things, pigs, chickens, rabbits and bees. We also had an organic garden and it was here that I really learned to appreciate fresh, quality ingredients.

During this time, I began my career in the electrical department at RGE. I really never fit the corporate mold and after 20 years found myself returning to my roots and one true passion: food. In 2001, my wife and I opened Magnolia’s Market and Deli on Park Ave. Within a year we purchased the Plaza Coffee Shop (now the Flour City Diner) in downtown Rochester. After revamping the entire menu and moving the FCD to its current location at 35 Chestnut Street in the East End district, I have found success in doing something I love - cooking.

Many of the dishes that we make on Soul Plates and that we serve at the Flour City Diner are the simple comfort foods I enjoyed cooking with my mother in our family restaurant. I took these dishes and added a creative twist taking my menu to the next level: "comfort food gone gourmet!" My wife and I have owned The Flour City Diner for five years and take pride in serving the best quality food at a good price. We use fresh quality ingredients from local purveyors to ensure the same standards I grew to appreciate over the years.

Please stop by and visit us at the diner - let me know what you think of Soul Plates, and try a piece of one of our many pies!