Chef Jake cooks at Lime Rock, Falls Village Inn

   LIME ROCK — Go for the racing this season at Lime Rock Park, but also go for the series of Make-A-Wish Foundation events — and the food.

Chef Jake Gandolfo will set the culinary pace Memorial Day weekend at the race track and the newly reopened Falls Village Inn. Gandolfo was a top 10 finalist last season on TV’s “MasterChef.”

When he’s not joining local chefs at Lime Rock Park’s new Midway Café Food Court, or maybe shadowing the park’s Chef Craig Hoctor, he will be waving the starting flag for the featured Grand Am race on Saturday, May 28, signing autographs and bringing his larger-than-life personality to the announcers booth.

He will be there through the Memorial Day schedule, which includes the Royals’ Garage Veterans Memorial Car Shoe on Sunday and Monday’s Daytona prototype and GT events.

“I grew up in Canaan and worked at Lime Rock Park way back when,” Gandolfo told The Journal. “I’m just coming home again. It’s gonna be a good vibe.”

Sunday will bring “Dinner with Jake” at the inn.

A calculated move

The story of how it all came together is not so simple. Gandolfo is married and has lived in northern California for years.

He went on “MasterChef” with a plan: Even if he didn’t win, a close finish would give him the celebrity needed to make it big in the business. It brings people in the door; then all he has to do is wow them with his culinary genius.

He was billed throughout the competition as a construction worker, which was what he was doing while the show was being recorded months in advance. Contestants were sworn to secrecy about the outcome in a slew of legal documents.  

Before the final airing, Gandolfo started Custom Culinary Concepts, which offers catering, personal appearances and cooking classes, among other services.

The new business brought him to Connecticut for a private chef gig midway through “Master Chef.” He snuck in a visit to his mom, Nancy Gandolfo, and old friends turned fans. They were still watching his progress through the show, hosted by tough taskmaster Gordon Ramsay. He said it was tough to keep the secret.

New doors open

Among the many things Gandolfo does these days is to descend on a club or restaurant and throw together a tantalizing five-course meal, often with wine pairings. An email blast goes out with the menu. Everyone is served what Jake wants to make. They sell out fast and get rave reviews.

Adventurous may be one way to describe his menus. But he respects that people want to know what they are eating. The food should be simple, he said, and the joy should come from the expert preparation and unique pairings, such as his chocolate-covered bacon.

Gandolfo, by the way, is back on TV. He has been featured cooking a monthly webshow, “Live from Daryl’s House.”

Last fall, he overheard a coffee shop conversation about a new race team. Always in the groove of looking to make a connection, he offered his business card, saying he was up for anything, from hosting an event to going on the road as the team chef. A former motorcycle racer, he said the idea of cooking for a race team was very appealing.

“Three months later, I got this random email,” he said. “They figured out who I was, and I signed on for eight nationals. I fly in and feed the team and crew, and the occasional VIPs,  properly.”

Coming home again

When Gandolfo saw Lime Rock on the team’s schedule, it got his wheels turning. He and the team came up with a plan for a fundraiser for a cause supported by a team member. But there was some upheaval on the team, and its trip to Lime Rock was canceled.

 At the last minute, Gandolfo revamped the entire plan. He teamed up with the race track, the inn, whose menu he found simple, yet impressive, and Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

On Sunday, May 29, Gandolfo and Falls Village Inn Chef Jose Lalvay will serve a three-course meal to 50 diners. The menu will be based on locally produced, seasonal items, including meat from Birdseye and Tanner Brook Farm in Cornwall, owned by Sam Waterston.

Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. Proceeds go to Make-A-Wish.

“It’s all about building community,” he said. “The whole deal has a real vibe of that. I’m still a part of this community and I love coming back.”

At the inn, co-owner Colin Chambers said he latched onto the idea immediately: “It’s a great way to support a good cause and kick off the summer for us.”

Chambers said he had no idea who Gandolfo was when he was approached. He watched “MasterChef,” but wasn’t living here and didn’t know of the local connection.

“When I realized who he was, I was thrilled,” he said. “He was the favorite to win that whole thing. He is bringing that big personality that he has, and that talent. It’s going to be amazing.”

Beginning May 26, the inn will be open Thursday through Monday for lunch and dinner. Diners will be able to order dinner in the Tap Room on May 29.

Tickets are already selling fast. Contact 860-824-0033 or innkeeper@thefallsvillageinn.com, and tell them you want to have dinner with Jake.