Cheryl-Biography

Cheryl Stair - Chef/Owner,
Art of Eating Catering and Wedding Planning

The seeds for Cheryl Stair's love for diverse international cuisine were sown when she was a little girl; her father served in the armed forces in Germany, France, and the state of Georgia before she turned eleven. Eventually settling on the East End of Long Island, Cheryl couldn't decide whether she wanted to be a food writer (which meant Journalism School), or a chef (Cooking School). Her acceptance letter from the Culinary Institute of America arrived first and off she went to Hyde Park, NY, never to look back.
Upon graduation, Stair returned to the East End, where she augmented her education with practical experience at Starr Boggs, The Inn At Quogue and The Patio, where she learned to work with various cuisine. From The Patio, Stair went to Florida where she became an executive chef with JP hotels (who at the time owned the Ritz Carlton, Holiday Inn and Marriott Hotels) in Tampa Bay where she was a troubleshooter, then onto Fort Lauderdale where she was Chef d'Cuisine at The Left Bank

	From Florida, it was back to Long Island where her expertise and talent eventually landed her the chef position at one of the Hampton's most critically acclaimed restaurants in the early 80's - The Laundry. (She was one of the first quality female chefs on Long Island, let alone the metropolitan area.) Stair helped put herself and The Laundry on the map, then she and her eventual husband, John Kowalenko, launched Art of Eating Catering and Event Planning. She has catered events for Martha Stewart, Ben (of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream), the P.G.A., Billy Joel, director Barry Sonnenfeld, the Governor and the President. Stair's company was recently named as "The Best Caterer in the Hamptons" by Hampton's Magazine. In 2002 Art of Eating received the "Readers Choice- Best Caterer" Award.
Recently featured on the Food Network's show, Inside Scoop, Stair and her crew were called "a high class catering company that only buys the best to serve the best", at the world famous Hampton Classic Horse Show. "Art of Eating is about the Art of Perfection. - No event is too big or too intimate for this adaptive couple", is what Country Magazine says, while New York Magazine calls them them "One of New York's best caterers".
	Stair and her staff had the honor of cooking an Easter Brunch at The James Beard Foundation and were given rave reviews. Partner John's renowned blender drinks were featured on the Martha Stewart Living television show. While catering the most discriminating clientele, she and Kowalenko rarely refuse to help a charitable organization - suggesting that their recipe for success includes a heaping portion of goodwill.