Hell's Kitchen winner Heather West now at Ciao Baby
Heather West at Ciao Baby in Commack Credit: Handout
Ciao Baby of Commack and Massapequa Park now has a TV reality show celeb as its new executive chef: Heather West, season 2 winner of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen.” West, a native of Port Jefferson, also cooked at Almond in Bridgehampton, the former Almondito in East Hampton and The Patio in Westhampton Beach, as well as at restaurants in Las Vegas, North Carolina and California. Before coming to Ciao Baby in January, West had been developing recipes and doing parties for the as-yet-unopened Jellyfish in Centerport.
Although Ciao Baby will retain the supersize portions once featured on Travel Channel’s “Man v Food,” West is working on a “Baby Chow” menu for those who don’t want such massive amounts. Among choices, right now, are a fried gnocchi appetizer ($9), a crabcake with roasted corn rémoulade ($12) and a baby skirt steak over balsamic tomatoes with Gorgonzola and pesto sauce ($17). The full menu won’t be ready for at least another two weeks,
Additionally, West said, the restaurant’s tomato sauce has been made heartier and more garlicky. She will soon be making all the restaurant’s desserts, as well.
Ciao Baby is at 204 E. Jericho Tpke., Commack, 631-543-1400, and 5074 Sunrise Hwy., Massapequa Park, 516-799-5200.
