By Mary Thayer Haugen
Steve Szilvagyi
Chef de Cuisine
Great Lakes Restaurant
Henry Ford Village, Dearborn, Michigan
Training: Maccomb Community College Culinary Arts Program.
Inspiration: “I’ve always had a love for food; I mean a real passion for it. I watched cooking shows as a kid. In high school, whenever I had to give a speech or do a presentation, it was always related to food.
“In college, I was majoring in computer science and working in the cafeteria when I realized how much I enjoyed food service. I looked at restaurant management and decided that I really wanted to be involved in the culinary arts part of it. I did my research and discovered Maccomb had a great program, and that’s where I went.”
Career Highlights: Steve has worked in numerous fine restaurants around the area, including the St. Clair Inn, Victorian Inn, and Lake View Hills Country Club.
His Job: “The people here—from the people who live here to the people who work here—are awesome. Because of my long drive to work, people are always asking about the drive and concerned for my safety in bad weather. And whenever my son visits (he’s 18 months), he instantly has 250 grandparents! I really enjoy working here.”
On His Own: “I’m learning to play guitar and I follow NASCAR, but mostly I enjoy family time—playing with the kids or visiting extended family.”
“When I worked at the Victorian Inn in Port Huron, we used to have a contest to create desserts with Girl Scout Cookies. This was one of my favorite creations.”