Meet Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Michael Barna

Michael is a born entertainer who loves sharing his talents with his audiences. “I love being on stage, entertaining, and sharing my love of cooking,” exclaims Michael. “It’s all about bringing the family back to the table.” His love of family food can be traced back to his grandmother’s Hungarian cooking, which he describes as “comfort food from loving hands.”

Michael has been cooking since he was 13, and earned his Associate of Occupational Studies degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. He has facilitated private and online cooking classes, appeared in local and national television commercials, and been featured in national recipe showcases. Michael has helped open three gourmet casino restaurants in Atlantic City and spent time as Executive Sous Chef at a prestigious 5 Diamond 4 Star hotel in Philadelphia before becoming the Executive Chef for a major national gourmet specialty food shop. As if those accomplishments weren’t enough, he has even worked as a culinary hand model!

Michael enjoys the simple pleasures (Captain Crunch is a favorite treat of his), but also believes that good food comes from the work you put into it, noting that “the best things come from the five percent you put in after you think you’re done.”

When not “wowing” attendees at Cooking School shows, Michael loves drumming, motocross, watching classic vintage movies and enjoying great food.