Food Network celebrity chef Anne Burrell signed copies of her book, ‘Cook like a Rock Star: 125 Recipes, Lessons and Culinary Secrets,’ in the Syracuse University Bookstore on Sunday. Afterward, she spoke to students, teachers and community members in the Panasci Lounge about how she discovered her passion for cooking and turned it into a career.

Burrell starred in Food Network’s ‘Iron Chef America,’ in which she was one of celebrity chef Mario Batali’s sous chefs. She also stars in her own show, ‘Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,’ and co-hosts a Food Network reality show, ‘Worst Cooks in America.’

Originally from Cazenovia, N.Y., Burrell majored in communications and English at Canisius College. By 23, she was unhappily working as a physician headhunter and realized she needed a change, she said.

‘I had an epiphany, and I remember every single thing about that moment. ‘I am 23 years old. I am too young to be miserable. I love to cook. I need to go to the Culinary Institute of America,” Burrell said.

So she did. Although she never earned high marks in high school or college, Burrell said, she was a straight-A student at the Culinary Institute of America.

‘It was the first time I was at the right place in my life. I found my passion. I found my thing,’ she said.

At the book signing, Christine Cespedes, a senior biomedical engineering major, said she was excited to meet Burrell for the second time. Cespedes said she met her a few weeks ago in New York City and has been a big fan of Burrell ever since she watched her on ‘Iron Chef.’

‘I also watched a show she hosted about how much food America wastes,’ Cespedes said. ‘It was really eye opening.’

Tracy Wentling, a graduate student studying sociology, said the most inspiring part of Burrell’s story was having the confidence to be bold and empowered by faith in what you’re doing.

Although most college students are without the basic means of cooking, Burrell said that’s not an excuse to not learn how to cook properly.

‘Everyone needs to learn how to cook. It doesn’t have to be difficult, but learning how to cook with fresh ingredients is always going to be healthier than something frozen or something from the can,’ she said. ‘But enjoy it and have fun with it.’

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Published on January 29, 2012 at 12:00 pm

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