Rick Moonen

About Rick

• Says that growing up as one of seven children, it took him a while to find his own unique self-identity.
• He went to a local college for two years, where he kind of just floated around, tried to find what he liked, what felt right.
• Started volunteering in the kitchen at a nursing home and he knew that he'd found his passion.
• Enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America; says that moving away inspired him to make a clean break and reinvent himself.
• That reinvention started on his very first day of classes; despite his crippling fear of public speaking, he stepped up as a group leader.
• After school, he stuck around to work at the Institute's restaurant, which is where he really started pushing himself to be a better chef.
• Says that the pressure and excitement of the hectic kitchen environment has always felt like home.
• Tells road-trippers they'll be "fine" doing anything, but if they decide to pursue their passions, that's when they'll truly succeed.