As host of Tina Cooks, which is produced through the facilities of Leominster Access Television, a public access cable channel in Leominster Massachusetts, Tina is a bona fide TV cook phenomenon. Ask Tina how it began and she will tell you, "I've always liked to cook."
The idea of channeling a deep Italian food affection into a careen didn't occur to Tina until after she graduated from high school. Indeed, it was at a culinary training and education program that Tina found herself.
Tina's restaurant experience peaked with a long career as head chef at the King's Corner Restaurant in Leominster in the late 1970's. it was also during this time that Tina worked "spare" time starting a small business as a then unheard of "personal chef" and also running a catering business for small functions.
In the interest of starting a family, Tina left full time restaurant work in 1981. She worked for a while in various smaller restaurants and pizza houses as a part time manager where she discovered her love of teaching and instructing others in the fun, simplicity and ease of home cooking, a passion that would give focus to her subsequent work in television. In the late 1980's, Tina took a part time job making soups and pasta for Bobby Chic's Italian Cafe in Leominster. For the next few years, she again took over the reigns as head chef and stayed on when the restaurant changed hands and became Maddie's Italian Cafe.
At the urging of her husband Carl, Executive Director of Leominster Access Television, in October of 2002 Tina was asked to try hosting a cooking show for LATV to help fill out the viewing schedule for the cable channel. Tina's love of basic home cooking (with a heavy Italian flair) and keeping traditions alive by passing on the love and ease of cooking was an instant success. After 8 years and 64 show later, Tina Cooks is still going strong today.
Tina's mission as both cook and TV host: To encourage everyone to cook delicious and healthful food at home with family and friends.
Tina lives in Leominster with her husband Carl. She has two grown children and is patiently waiting for grandkids to spoil.
