“C Y N F U L F O O D is the one-of-a-kind food and event design consultancy established by celebrity chef, caterer and restaurateur CYNTHIA SESTITO.”
“C Y N F U L F O O D elevates Cynthia’s multilayered professional background and talents, translating them to the world of marketing and brand identity.Cynthia works with a wide range of products and product lines (Grey Goose, Audi, Don Julio, Pepsi, Revolve LA), restaurants and clubs (New York City and Hamptons’ hot spots Webb City, Star Room -- where the NY Post’s Page Six pronounced her “The #1 Chef in the Hamptons”) and with individuals that often are brands in themselves (Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Barack Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Steven Spielberg). After a 20-year career involving every aspect of the food and catering industries (chef, restaurant owner, food stylist, TV personality, recipe designer...and on and on), Cynthia feels that “My food always made an indelible impression and my goal is to marry my food with the brand. I want it to stand for and capture the essence of something more --even if it is a Saltine cracker.I want people to say ‘Wow! So that’s what a Saltine cracker is all about.Now I get it!’ That’s when they make it a part of their food memories forever.”
CYNTHIA SESTITO
Cynthia Sestito is an innovative chef in the world of food, restaurants and entertaining.Cynthia grew up on ranches and organic gardening, long before it was "chic" or popular, imbuing her with a love and respect for food and its origins. Since the very beginning she has worked to educate her clientele on the importance of “real” food. She is known for fusing the art of food, flavor and fun into a celebration of the moment. For over twenty years, Cynthia has created a constant stream of some of the most exciting and successful events and restaurants in the New York region: two, three-star restaurants (New York Times) her successful catering organization,
C Y N F U L F O O D, and her work as a private chef. Cynthia continues to whisk her signature mark of original and seasonal cuisine into a sensual experience where her food becomes the event.
Already known for creating the summer's hottest parties (In Touch Weekly, Hamptons, People) Cynthia‘s colorful events always land her on “Page Six”. Cynthia always keeps busy with private celebrity dinners, including Beyoncé, Chris Martin, and Scarlett Johansson to name a few. Cynthia’s close association with Jay Z has also led to a wonderful and wide array of roles and events—from private chef (New York City, the Hamptons and world tours) to producing corporate events and dinners.
Building on her success as a longstanding restaurateur/chef, Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire continue to collaborate with Cynthia on a series of VIP events in order to reach a more exclusive audience. She has worked on launches with Don Julio to create recipes for tastings and sit down dinners, as well as Gentleman Jack and Absolute. Cynthia has been engaged for a number of other corporate branding events, including Audi, Bentley, BMW, Revolve Clothing, Niche Media, Fiji water, Pepsi and VH1. Her brand itself is recognized as being first in taste and exclusivity, as demonstrated by her client list.
Cynthia continues to build on her remarkable ability to be recognized as a fan favorite from the premiere season of Top Chef, on Bravo. She has also played, bantered and cooked on “Access Hollywood,” MTV Europe, the London “Today Show” and on a number of other network programs.
Cynthia is currently working on an autobiographical account of her daring escapades in the food industry mixed with the experience of food and celebrity.
TRUDY CRANEY
(Rapanaro-Stigliano) Soprano, Foodie & Baker
Trudy Craney has been exposed to truly delicious food from birth; so it is no surprise that the COVID effect upon her as a performing artist brought her full circle to baking and cooking with chef, Cynthia Sestito. Her grandmother, Angeliina Stigliano, (beloved beyond words: you need to have an Italian ‘nona’ to understand), was born in Grassano, the province of Basilicata, Italy, where as one of twenty-one children, she learned to bake, cook, grow food, and lay bricks. Immigrating to Brooklyn, NY, in 1920, Angelina brought centuries-old recipes and a talent for cooking that she passed on to her daughter, Trudy’s mother, Rose Christine. Trudy observed her mother’s cooking, straddling Italian with Irish food for her husband, Tom. The aromas in the kitchen were a soporific to the heart and soul. The serving of delicious food in the Italian household is major demonstration of deep love toward family and friends, something Trudy infuses into every cheesecake she makes.
Trudy has been perfecting her ricotta cheesecake recipe for over 20 years, along with 15 years of biscotti experimentation and development. Her brother, Tom, a true foodie, offered up his killer bran muffins for people who love delicious food but have a ‘conscience’ about what they imbibe. She is by nature a ‘people’ person and looks forward to enjoying life and the wonderful tastes with her customers, friends and family. You may even hear her burst into song in the bakery booth!
This soprano’s love for music runs deep. Trudy fully intends to step back out on the performance stage once all are safely vaccinated. She teaches voice in Manhattan and on the East End -- all remotely for the moment.
SOPRANO TRUDY CRANEY Over the expanse of a prolific singing career, Trudy Craney has established herself as a stunning vocalist of bel canto, baroque and contemporary repertory in the fields of opera, oratorio, orchestral, and concert work. Having portrayed the high-wire-act heroines such as Madame Mao, the Queen of the Night, Lucia (di Lammermoor), Joan of Arc (Ain), Gilda, Konstanze, Fiordiligi, etc, as well as her continued concertizing, (Bach & Forth Chamber Ensemble, SPEKTRUM) she has meticulously honed her vocal technical craft, significantly informing her work as a voice teacher.