A recent transplant from the Windy City of Chicago, Chef Mike studied the art and science of food & nutrition at Purdue University and later graduated from Kendall College with a concentration in culinary arts. After working in the corporate test kitchens of Kraft Foods, developing new product concepts and recipes for everything from frozen pizzas to shelf-stable sauces to cookies, Mike formally began his teaching career at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston. Since then, he has worked independently as a consultant for many large food companies including Walmart, Wilton, Mizkan and Nestle, offering recipe and product development services, food styling, prototyping and writing. As an educator, he teaches culinary classes to novices, food enthusiasts and has been on the faculty of Kendall College and Triton College as well. After 20 years in the industry, Mike decided to bring all his skills together at Armanino Foods where he is the Research & Development Manager and Chef, responsible for all aspects of product development as well as recipe/menu ideation for customers. Mike enjoys traveling throughout the world to experience culture and cuisine. He lives in San Francisco with his husband who also loves exploring the vibrant food scene in the Bay Area.
Grilled Corn & Cactus Salad
Grilled Corn & Cactus Salad In the middle of summer, I’m not thinking of beaches or surfing, but corn on-the-cob! I love corn any time of year but when it’s farm-fresh and sweet off the cob, it’s really the best. As a kid, my family would buy giant bushel bags [...]
Grilled Carrots & Leeks with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pesto
Grilled Carrots & Leeks with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pesto We are finally in March which means spring is nearly around the corner! To me, Spring is that great time of the year when the weather is not too cold and hopefully not too hot. Since we can expect warmer [...]
Pesto Spirals
Pesto Spirals How often do you sit down at a restaurant and stuff yourself with bread or breadsticks before your meal even hits the table? As an owner/chef/operator, the idea of giving guests something free sounds like good customer service, whether it’s a bread basket, chips and salsa, peanuts, popcorn, [...]
Breakfast All Day, Everyday
Breakfast All Day, Everyday I am entirely a breakfast fanatic. To me, breakfast is like this universal magical meal that can be enjoyed for lunch (thankfully there is something called "Brunch") or even for dinner. Eggs are a staple in my breakfast dishes for their good source of protein and [...]
Roasted Acorn Squash with Crispy Pork Belly and Creamy Garlic Sauce
Roasted Acorn Squash with Crispy Pork Belly and Creamy Garlic Sauce Nothing says Fall like squash! Though the ubiquitous butternut squash has had a starring role in our raviolis, soups, and salads, I prefer some of the other varieties - acorn and kabocha to name a few. In this recipe, [...]
Beet Salad with Couscous, Harissa & Feta
Beet Salad with Couscous, Harissa & Feta At home, I have at least 10 different hot sauces and chile pastes in my fridge. Whether Latin or Asian, I love them all. One chile sauce that’s been getting pretty popular the last few years is Harissa. Originally from Tunisia in Northern [...]
Armanino Artichoke Dip Pizza
Armanino Artichoke Dip Pizza Spinach Artichoke “Dip” Pizza Go to any casual restaurant and you’re almost sure to find a version of artichoke dip on the menu. Whether it’s made with spinach or onions or mushrooms, homemade or from the freezer, it’s a fan favorite at home too. [...]
Mortar & Pestle
Back to My Roots Roasted Root Vegetable Soup Here in Northern California, the fall and winter isn’t quite as cold as I remember from my Midwestern childhood. But that doesn’t stop me from making all kinds of soups to warm the soul. My favorite soups are always hearty [...]
Armanino Gives Back
Armanino is and always has been a family driven company. We strive to support our employee families and our community families. Giving back to those in need is integral to who we are.
New Flexible Packaging
NEW at Armanino – Flexible Pouch Packaging.