Hot Chefs

Chef Jayme FranklinCouco Pazzo 915-917 Lake Avenue Lake Worth, Fl  33460  561-585-0320 www.coucopazzo.com

 Chef Jayme Franklin - Mr. June, 2011

Most individuals have the opportunity to choose their career, in my case, it chose me.  Starting out as a dishwasher at the age of thirteen basically summed up my ability to choose my career.  Once I was able to see how a restaurant operated and the fast paced environment that went along with it, I was hooked.  I was fortunate to work at one of the best restaurants in Florida.  Vinton’s had several food awards, wine spectator awards and celebrity autographed plates on the walls.  There I learned about kitchen basics, proper service and exceeding guest’s expectations.  I was able to work every facet of the restaurant before I left with my friend to travel the U.S. on motorcycles.  We worked at various restaurants throughout the eastern seaboard including Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, NJ. 

After returning home and attending college at UCF, I became a manager with Longhorn Steakhouse and spent the next ten years as a general manager/managing partner sharpening my culinary and management skills.  In 2003, along with my business partner Bobby SanGiovanni, we bought our own restaurant Couco Pazzo, which means "crazy chef" in Italian.  Over the past seven years we have cultivated and molded this restaurant into what we believe is an extension of our homes.  For the past two years, Couco Pazzo has been voted one of the top 1000 Italian restaurants in America! 
 

I have been married for 16 years to my beautiful and very understanding wife Brenda.  We have two children: Gabe 15 and Lauren 13 both are students at Park Vista High School.  My hobbies include weightlifting, golf and entertaining.  I would consider myself a crazy chef on many levels.  First I do not take myself too seriously.  I learn as much from my staff as they do from me.  Secondly, I love to make people laugh even if it makes me look silly.  Lastly, every person who puts in the time, the sacrifices and stress of working in the kitchen has to be a little “crazy”!