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STEVEN MEESE

Steven James Meese, age 42, is an award-winning modernistic chef and television personality in the Ohio and Great Lakes area with more than 17 years experience in the culinary arts.

Chef Meese has attained the highly coveted positions of Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine at several top restaurants and has trained under Alexander Stratta's Executive Chef Suzanne Peretto, James Katerakis' protege to Paul Bocuse and Emeril's Executive Chef Zachary Martin. Chef has cooked for President George W. Bush, the governor of Florida, senators, the famous River Dancers, owner of the Pittsburgh Tribune, and many top celebrities in the sports and entertainment industries.

Chef has been a guest on Your Morning Saturday Channel 11 CBS, Talk Back Fox Toledo, Full Plate Channel 13 ABC and has been featured in many regional publications including The Crescent-News, Toledo Blade, Bowling Green University Press, Northwest Signal, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Chef is owner and executive chef of Agora Fine Dining events. He is involved in making cooking videos, writing cookbooks and children's causes.

Life and career

Chef Steven Meese was born in the Midwest in 1969 to Greek airline stewardess Elizabeth Williams. Meese spent his first years living in Greece and later moved to central Florida. Meese started his career in food service as a teenager in his Greek uncle's Chicago restaurant. Chef was trained at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and received the Excellence and Service Award during his 10 year tenure. Also, Chef performed the world famous Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World. Upon moving to the Midwest, Chef took over Fife's Reprise in Toledo, Ohio, the city's only three-star premiere French Continental restaurant. As executive chef at Fife's, he peformed Toledo Restaurant Week. Chef has also performed events at the Palace at Auburn Hills, Dillard's, Macy's, Whole Foods, Williams-Sonoma, Amway Center.

Acknowledgements

“Truly one of Orlando’s great chefs.” - Tara O’Keefe, French Culinary Institute

“I’ve traveled the world – Steven’s food style and flavors separate him from the other great chefs.” - Fifi Berry, restaurateur/entrepreneur

“Steven is spontaneous as a chef which makes his food simply amazing.” – Justin Murphy, Executive Chef Protégé of Norman Van Akan, creator of New World Cuisine