UTICA — Cooking and making pastries in cities around the United States and Italy were exciting for Dean Nole, but the bonuses of working in Utica made him bring his skills back home.
Nole, 30, co-owner of the bistro and pastry shop Cafe CaNole in Utica, was
chosen as an Accent on Excellence Award winner
because of the delicious pastries he bakes and the professionalism he demonstrates on the job.
He is a
master chef who bakes and decorates pastries and
cakes at the establishment he owns with his brother,
Jason, who cooks lunches and dinner entrees.
"We
both know each other's line, but I like this better
and he likes that better," Dean Nole said. "We're
very lucky, because at a young age we knew what we
wanted to do."
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Dean Nole
Whitesboro resident Mike Ezzo, owner of Babe's Macaroni Bar and Grill and Carmella's Cafe, said the Noles prepared food for his daughter's wedding and provided him with one of his most memorable experiences.
"They catered the best wedding I've been to," Ezzo said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Dean holds degrees from the prestigious Gruppo Ristorante Italianne School in Torino, Italy, and the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. He cooked in two restaurants in Italy before opening Cafe CaNole in 1996.
He also cooked at the former Scamardo's Seneca Inn in New
Hartford and cooked and specialized in cakes and pastries at the former Donna Marie's Restaurant
in Frankfort.
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"This award is a great honor because
there are a lot of good people in the area," he
said.
Adjusters International President and CEO Ronald Cuccaro, who nominated him for the Accent on Excellence Award, said he was always struck by Dean's work when he catered events for Cuccaro's company.
"I was always very impressed by his attention to detail and quality," Cuccaro said. "Everything is always delicious, and he is very easy to work with."
Known for making cannolis, pusties, a variety of cookies and intricate cakes, Dean said he learned to love food at a young age from family members.
Although he often helps Jason prepare lunch and dinner entrees, his passion is pastry. "You can be creative with pastries,"
Dean said. |
Working in Utica after cooking in premier
restaurants and pastry shops in Italy was not a
hard choice for Dean, a Whitesboro High School
graduate.
"It's just nice to be in your own back
yard," he said. "It's exciting to be around your
family and friends."
He
continues traveling to different regions of Italy
with Jason for ideas, but always keep a balance with
old-world techniques.
"You don't want to get stale. It's important to have new ideas, but keep the tradition," Dean said. |
