From Passion to Plate: How Michele Salmini Turned Her Love of Cooking into Oak Street Kitchen

How did her love of cooking turn into a business? Michele Salmini was a teacher in her former life. She taught 3rd grade in Manhattan and later moved to the admissions department. But becoming a stay-at-home mom, gave her plenty of time for her true passion of cooking and entertaining. “I am a major foodie and food magazine junkie who spend tons of time creating my own recipes, testing them out on my husband and kids, and planning my next luncheon or dinner party menu! I credit my love of cooking to my Danish and Italian grandmothers who were both incredible cooks and spent many of their days cooking and baking for family.”

It was her friends and family who encouraged Michele to turn her passion into a pursuit. “I am so thankful that all of my friends, who I have hosted, encouraged me to do something with it…teaching others how to cook and entertain with ease!” For the last five years, Michele has been offering cooking classes out of her home in New Canaan on Oak Street – hence the name, Oak Street Kitchen.

But then things took a turn. Michele’s house caught fire and had to be completely rebuilt. Her business was put on hold while she and her family regrouped after being left without a home. They found a rental in Rowayton and then as luck would have it, a forever home there with spectacular water views. Now she’s ready to offer her classes again. “Nothing makes me happier than making people happy through yummy food!”

Twice a week you’ll find groups of 6 – 10 people sitting in Michele’s kitchen while she demonstrates her yummy creations and shares them with her class. Attendees can BYOB – so fun – and the groups often come for a birthday party, or work gathering or just for fun and to learn something new. “Sit, socialize, and relax while you eat, drink, and learn.”

Another offering that Michele provides is menu planning. She loves to plan menus for dinner parties, luncheons and the holidays. She says, “I know it can be very daunting to a lot of people. That is where I come in! I can plan a stress-free menu from soup to nuts for you…but you DO have to cook it;).” But she says she makes it easy and give you the instructions and a step-by-step plan allowing you to cook delicious, impressive dishes for your guests. And they’re easy too.

What does the future hold? Michele says she’d like to offer her delicious dressing and marinade at the farmer’s market in town. This would be a great way to increase her following and build her cooking class business in her new hometown. “I’m an empty nester and I love filling my house with friends, new and old, to share a meal with.”