Day: December 27, 2021

Photo by George Harris 

Award-winning chef, hospitality industry advocate, restaurant consultant, and beloved culinary personality, Vincent Tropepe has been setting the restaurant scene on fire for the past two decades with his one-of-a-kind approach, understanding, and intimate relationship with ingredients that spans a variety of cultural denominations. These rare twenty-five nationally recognized certifications, in addition to his numerous degrees in the culinary arts, have made him a culinary giant in his field.

It is no surprise that Chef Tropepe has reached the level he has from working in some of the most respected kitchens from the age of 19. Alaine at the Essex House, SD26, Mr. K’s, The Rainbow Room, and the 21 Club are just a few places that were lucky enough to have him grace their kitchens. Tropepe was also the per diem Executive Chef aboard Air Force One for a total of 14 domestic flights for President Bush and Obama.

The two words that ring loud and clear from people that know both the man and the chef are authentic and modest. Although I will admit, I was somewhat nervous to interview the chef, by the time the interview was over, those two words were extremely accurate.

Tropepe, known for his no nonsense approach both inside and out of the kitchen in his sophomore literary work, holds little back. During lockdown, he put his time to good use as he wrote SLAUGHTERED: How Inconsistent Lockdowns Collapsed the Hospitality Industry During COVID-19.

“Day after day, I was watching one bad decision being made after another. And I simply couldn’t handle it anymore. The people making the decisions weren’t affected by the outcome, but if they would have been affected, their decision making would have been most likely different,” Tropepe said.

“The hospitality industry suffered the most casualties. As more and more time passed, I couldn’t understand why a qualified person from the industry did not write a book. Nearly twenty thousand books were published on the subject of COVID-19, but not one dedicated to the hospitality industry,” Tropepe said.

From politician’s hypocritical behavior, to the infringement of civil liberties and the concept of free enterprise, Chef Tropepe covers every base in his fifteen-chapter book.

“This was a very challenging book to write for a number of reasons. To start, I am not a political person. I have my views, and I am a very diplomatic and an independent thinker. It’s my belief that good policies know no political party. So, to write a book on a subject that collapsed my industry and that was so politicized was without doubt a challenge. Second is that COVID-19 isn’t over. We have seen a wide variety of variants and a new variant stemming from South Africa just recently. It sort of feels like this constant dark cloud over us,” said Chef Tropepe.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of questions purposely unasked in my opinion. I believe that Dr. Fauci is not being as forthright as he should be and many things just make little sense. It’s a shame because for all the losses—the loss of life, jobs, careers, businesses—the truth is we will never get a full truth. We will be told the information that the powers that be want to tell us, and the American people deserve the unaltered and uncompromised truth. I can not make that happen, but what I can and did do was present the unaltered truth about what transpired in the hospitality industry. All I can do now is hope I did my part well enough,” concludes Tropepe.

And in fact he did. Chef Tropepe’s balanced and bipartisan approach shines through the entire book. The hospitality industry and those that dine and enjoy the many outlets of the hospitality industry should read this book and for sure this book will act as a bible that memorializes what transpired in hopes that the same mistakes don’t happen a second time.

SLAUGHTERED by Chef Vincent Tropepe is available exclusively through Barnes and Noble.

Passion can look like many things—it can look like resolve, or it can resemble conviction. Either way, passion can undeniably make someone do amazing things. For Edna Freeman, her passion for arts and writing stories made her into the remarkable individual she is today. Edna is a survivor from Brazil, having the unfortunate reality of growing up in a broken home and experiencing a somewhat toxic environment. However, despite her appalling circumstances back then, she was able to make peace with her past, and now that she is living in the USA, she is using her background to draw strength and inspire others.

For over fifteen years, Edna has been deeply involved as an early childhood educator, newborn care specialist, and a vocal advocate of compassionate support for trauma and abuse survivors, adding that it is her wish for people around her not to feel the same way she did growing up. Recently, Edna has written a children’s book called My New Friend, thoroughly demonstrating to young children that when parents leave, they will also return, as well as inspire them to have all the fun they can have with their new friends, especially the nanny when their parents are away. My New Friend is illustrated by Arabage N. Priyadarshani and written in English and Portuguese. It is available on Amazon Kindle and is on its way to being published on a hardcover. 

Besides her recently published children’s book, Edna has been working on a few novels that she can’t wait to publish. She goes on to explain that anyone who’s going through a lot can certainly relate to her literary works.

Aside from her flair in the field of writing, Edna is also a proud mental health advocate, saying, “As a mother and a champion for children, I believe in taking a proactive stance against mental health stigmas. Through my work, I have dedicated my life to shining a light of hope into an often-overwhelming world-leading those who are without hope towards a future of possibility.” The remarkable mother is also politically engaged, demanding a world where equality, inclusivity, and acceptance do not require protest. She is also a social media marketer and a passionate digital creator, amassing thousands of followers on all her social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, where she posts beautiful photos of herself with family and friends. Suffice to say, Edna loves life despite all the hardships she has had to overcome.

“When I’m not spending time with my beautiful kids and husband, I love listening to music, writing, and watching shows independently. I also love to treat myself to delicious food and go on travel adventures. I have learned a lot through the years, and I am happy to help people from all walks of life,” Edna said.

Edna believes that the future can hold many opportunities for writers like her. Now that she has started to establish her brand, she has gained attention and approval from celebrated people on Instagram and other platforms, including Jay Honest. Through perseverance and dedication, Edna dreams of writing a piece of literary art that will change millions of people’s lives worldwide.

To learn more about Edna, her advocacy, and her books, check out her Instagram and website.