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 Tyler Florence may be a hot item on the New York culinary
scene, but he's a Southern gentleman at heart. His love of
cooking and appreciation of fresh ingredients are rooted in
his parents' South Carolina garden and kitchen. Planning the
evening meal around the day's bounty was the start of this
young chef's career, filling him with deep respect for his
Southern culinary heritage.
In 1991, Tyler graduated from Johnson & Wales University
at Charleston, S.C., and continued his studies with a second
degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. While in college he
honed his taste for grits and cornbread with some of the great
Southern chefs, including Louis Osteen of
Louis's Charleston Grill, James Burns
of Anson and Donald Barickman
of Magnolia's.
With stars in his eyes and a stack of Art Culinaire magazines
under his arm, Tyler moved to New York City in 1992 to sharpen
his skills with the city's top chefs. After extended stints
with Charlie Palmer at Aureole, Marta Pulini at Mad 61 and Rick Laakonen at the River Café,
he was ready for his own stage.
In 1995, Tyler earned the Executive Chef's position at Cibo,
where his contemporary American cuisine received praise from
numerous New York City publications including Where,
Crain's New York Business, The New York Times, New York Magazine and Time Out New York. In 1998,
Tyler opened the much-anticipated Cafeteria in Manhattan as Executive Chef. The same year, the Chelsea-based
restaurant received a nomination for "Best New Restaurant"
in Time Out New York.
Tyler's television career began in 1996. He has since logged
more than 40 guest appearances on Food Network shows such
as 'Ready, Set, Cook!', 'Chef du Jour', 'Gordon Elliott's
Door Knock Dinners' and 'In Food Today'. He's also appeared on New York One News and
Fox Five's Good Day New York.
Recently, he has travelled around the country on rescue missions
as host of 'Food Network's 'Food 911'. Whether
responding to viewers' fallen soufflés, chaotic kitchens
or overcooked vegetables, Tyler Florence is the remedy for
any brand of kitchen chaos.
Today, Tyler is hosting 'Planet Food' and has given us the
pleasure of his extensive culinary knowledge in Mexico and Emilia-Romagna & Tuscany (Central
Italy).
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