In addition to being an advertising executive in New York City, Joe DeSalazar is passionate about food and wine.

It all started at Hamilton College, where the realities of cafeteria food exposed his appreciation for the great cooking of his mother and uncle while growing up. Joe began to translate his obsession with the Food Network into real cooking in college. While starting as a great way to impress girls and a better alternative to cafeteria food, Joe graduated college and began to take cooking seriously. Joe spent years devoted to perfecting and master key French and Italian cooking techniques from his favorite chefs - Mario Batali, Lydia Bastianich, Thomas Keller and Charlie Trotter. With the boom of cooking programming, the Internet, and in-depth cookbooks, Joe had begun to train himself to perfect key French and Italian cooking techniques and philosophies.

To supplement his years of learning to cook at home, Joe began working in the kitchens of three star restaurant Cafe Boulud and Eleven Madison Park in New York City during his spare time.

Joe felt confident that he was prepared to take his passion for cooking to another level by beginning foodie in December 2002.

Joe also writes the "Eating In" column for Gothamist Food.