Today we’d like to introduce you to Roni Proter.
Roni, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Cooking has always been a cornerstone of my life. My family is Israeli and some of my fondest childhood memories were pickling capers with my grandfather in his kitchen in Haifa and helping him make a classic Israeli chopped salad. My parents are both phenomenal cooks and almost all of our meals were made from scratch and eaten at home. My mother worked for an airline company so we had the privilege of traveling extensively. My mother exposed my sister and I to a variety of exotic foods and flavors from our adventures abroad and I think that combination leads me to explore food and expand my palate, learning about people and their cultures through dishes.
My career in television began as a reporter, covering hard news for local stations, then breaking into entertainment and lifestyle reporting. At night I attended culinary school, but after I had my second son I left television to return to culinary school full time. I have had the pleasure of doing live cooking segments for television stations nationwide, in addition to my online partners, sharing recipes and tips for cooking shortcuts with my growing community.
My greatest accomplishment has been my two boys. My husband died in 2018 after a very short battle with depression, it shocked not only our family but the entire community. The strength I’ve gathered to move forward has been thanks to the many family members and friends who have embraced my two sons and myself.
Since that time I started a catering company, expanding on my love for feeding and nourishing others. We’ve heard it many times but the old saying is true, ‘if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ Whether I am cooking on television, catering an event or simply preparing a meal for my children, food brings me joy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Working in television news taught me how to respond to stress, deadlines, pressure and harsh criticism. It’s a cutthroat business that has had to reinvent itself as technology advances, so thinking critically and creatively is necessary to be able to evolve.
I’ve had many live television segments bomb. I’ve definitely had cooking segments when a stove or burner goes out right before we go live, I completely burned the food without a backup or served undercooked or cold food to a host. But I’ve never missed a deadline and I realize that what may seem like the biggest flub to me might not be as noticeable to the viewer.
One time I arrived for a Hanukkah cooking segment and just as I began flipping potato pancakes (splattered with oil grease all over my silk blouse) the segment was cancelled to break into a weather due to a snowstorm. On live television, there are many things out of your control and you just have to roll with it.
On the personal front, nothing has been a bigger struggle than the loss of my husband. To say it was unexpected is an understatement. He was very stable and grounded and his suicide rattled me deeply. But I learned that I can weather a storm and be the steady for myself and my own children. My values have shifted, I no longer take for granted my health, my children’s health and I have been awestruck by the amount of support I’ve been shown by my family and friends. Opening up on social media has been amazing, I never knew how many people are struggling in their own lives, especially ones who seem to have it all together. It makes me realize we are all just doing our best, and that’s good enough.
Please tell us about Dinner Reinvented.
Dinner Reinvented is about reimagining how you see dinner. It’s about simple, healthful meals that are quick and easy to prepare and a joy to eat. I believe in getting children in the kitchen early, cracking eggs, tossing salad, chopping vegetables, when you prepare your food you are more likely to explore new flavors. As my family is Israeli, much of my flavors revolve around a Mediterranean palate. Besides television segments, where I show an audience how to create a delicious weeknight dinner, I have also taught children’s cooking classes, done in-home kitchen makeovers and expanded my catering business in the Dallas area, sharing my favorite Mediterranean meals with mainly businesses looking for a private Chef experience in office.
I always cook food with the same ingredients and passion as I do for my own family, it comes from the heart and is an extension of who I am.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Every single step, stumble and hiccup has happened just as it should, I have no regrets.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dinnerreinvented.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinnerreinvented/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinnerreinvented/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARDZwHD92g9E_ivBwdFOqOQdcB2REVZ62KT44ppuwB7PNhFF7v2OcEN9sC0l9wjjFVWrPcF8NYXicDTT
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Huj7c_0PkyCnzrWpuA-ng?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Mark Zamora
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