Ron Clewer - BEST AMATEUR CHEF

What began as a necessity for Ron Clewer grew into a life-long passion.

“I started cooking for my family when I was 10 years old,” Clewer said. “Growing up, I had dual working parents, so it was sometimes difficult for them to get dinner on the table every night. My mom taught me how to cook, so I started making weeknight meals to help out.”

As an adult, Clewer honed his culinary skills participating in events such as 100 Men Who Cook, a fundraiser for the Rockford Area Literacy Council.

“During the years I cooked in the 100 Men event, I never cooked the same dish twice. I made hors d’oeuvres, main dishes and desserts,” he said.

Some of his recipes included grilled bacon-wrapped stuffed shrimp and a coffee mousse for dessert.

“I always cooked with a group of guys, which included my brother,” Clewer said. “After my brother passed away, our dad joined the group, so we have many great memories of that time.”

These days, Clewer, Illinois market president at Gorman & Company, enjoys cooking for his coworkers.

“There are several folks at Gorman who love to cook. And though we don’t cook together, there’s some friendly online competition about whose dish is a little sexier than the others,” he said. “It’s fun and a great way to connect with colleagues.”

Clewer loves to cook traditional meals featuring gourmet side dishes and isn’t afraid to try new recipes for guests.

“I’ve never repeated the same menu when entertaining, because I figure we’re all in this together,” he said. “Cooking is about the food’s flavor, creativity and presentation. But more importantly, it’s about relishing those gathered around your table.”