Healthy Recipe of the Month

Regis Philbin says, “The Clever Cleaver Brothers aren’t just clever. They’re funny and can cook, too.” Leeza Gibbons notes, “Anything these guys do promises to be fun.” And “Emmy Magazine” adds, “They’re what you might get if Martin and Lewis graduated from The Cordon Bleu.”

The Clever Cleaver Brothers were Lee N. Gerovitz and Steve Cassarino — professional chefs who have turned their love for food and laughter into a unique career as media personalities, cookbook authors, magazine columnists and, as one pundit called them, “stand-up chefs.”

These culinary cut-ups were regulars on the TV guest circuit with appearances on “The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno,” “Live! with Regis,” “Fox & Friends,” “The Other Half,” “CNN Headline News,” “Entertainment Tonight”, ‘The View”, and many others. The Chefs appeared on over 125 live TV Shows a year, for 25 years. Their syndicated TV cooking vignettes “KITCHEN CUT-UPS!®” have been broadcast in over 50 countries in five languages. Their 10th season of the national television feature “Tailgatin’ with The Clever Cleaver Brothers®” is seen weekly by more than 2.5-Million viewers during the pro-football season. Lee and Steve authored 3 cookbooks, a DVD plus a magazine column “Cutups” which appeared regularly in “BARBECUE & Beverage” magazine. In 1987 The Clever Cleaver Brothers were nominated for an EMMY.

After retiring as a Clever Cleaver Brother in 2012, Steve developed a new persona as Chef Roc. Chef Roc launched a TV series called Chef Roc and The Joc, airing locally on San Diego FOX 5 every Saturday at Noon. A cooking show tied in with the NFL Alumni.

In 2013, Chef Roc launched The Chef Roc TV Show in Hawaii. Now in its 7th Season the Chef Roc TV Show airs in Hawaii on KKAI TV50 twice a day, 7 days a week. The show reaches the whole State of Hawaii and in Las Vegas. The Chef Roc TV Show features spirits, wine, beer segments, local chefs, Organic local produce, meats and fish with live music from Hawaii’s Local Legend Johnny Valentine (Bruno Mars Uncle) all shot in front of a live audience. The Chef Roc Series is now seen weekly on The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Zumo TV, Vizio TV, Stirr TV, Local Now and Distro TV and is seen in 4 countries. December 20, 2023 Chef Roc Productions launched a series called Chefs of Color featuring 4 young black chefs each getting their own series. The shows can be seen weekly on 16 platforms including FOX SOUL a National Streaming Channel.

Professional Background:

Current Activity

Partner in TRIO TV, LLC – A TV Development Company – 2018 to present

TRIO TV is in development on several new TV projects

CEO Pipe Dream Kitchen – 2018 to present Development food products infused with CBD Launched a tea and snack line and developed a White Label suite of products.

CEO of Chef Roc Productions – 2013 to present

Executive Producer/Host Chef Roc TV Series 7h Season – 130 Half Hour episodes

Chef Roc Kitchen Tip Series 100 episodes

KKAI TV50

Every day and night @ 3:30 pm and @ 3:30am

Syndicated around the world

Former activity

Executive Producer and Host of ESPN’s Chef Roc and CJ Live Radio Show 2018 Executive Chef for Dietz and Watson 75th Anniversary Flavor Tour 7 months on the Road. 35,000 miles, 50 Cities, 330 Events and over 240,000 samples Executive Chef for Dietz and Watson Pop Up Restaurant in Philadelphia. Developed the menu and managed the operation for the Summer of 2015 GM/Executive Chef Breakers Restaurant - Haleiwa, HI

The Clever Cleaver Brothers

Celebrity Television/Radio Chef, Partner, 28 years retired Content Distribution to over 50 countries in 5 languages via TV and Internet.

Created, Produced and Syndicated several TV series.

Regular guest appearances on National and Local TV shows.

Weekly content supplier for In Your Kitchen.com, dimensionweekly.com, Tailgatingtimes.com, AOL Video, Yahoo, Clip Syndicate, Blip TV.

Created, Published Cookbooks, DVD’s, Podcasts and company web site.

Writer, “Barbecue & Beverage” magazine. Owner, 5 years Cassarino Catering, San Diego, California

Developed recipes, menus, parties 2 to 400. Specialized in high-end clientele, including politicians, venture capitalists, doctors, lawyers.

Executive Chef, 2 years

Private yacht based in Monte Carlo

Sous Chef, 1 year

Melbourne Hotel, Brisbane, Australia

Client List Includes: American Plastics Council, Angostura Intl., Anheuser Busch, Bacardi, Boru Vodka, Cabot Cheese, Chalula Hot Sauce, Colavita, Coleman, Mrs. Dash, Egg Beaters, Georgia Pecan Council, Heinz, John Morrell Meats, Johnsonville Sausage, Jose Cuervo, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Morey’s Seafood, Morton Seasoning

Blends, Ocean Spray, Phillips Foods, Red Monkey Foods, Reynolds’s Wrap, Sam Adam’s, Star Olive Oil, Wesson Oil, VJ’s Sausage Company, FOG Safe Drain Guards, White Lion Tea

Client List Highlights:

White Lion Tea – Developed a CBD Infusing Program

Breakers Restaurant – organize and hire new management team, create a new menu

Burger King – BK Broiler – concept to launch.

Carl’s Jr. – 5 chicken sandwiches – concept to focus groups.

Carnie Wilson Cookbook – Food Stylist

Cholula Hot Sauce – Writer, “Grillin’ and Chillin’” cookbook.

Haagen Dazs – specialty ice cream sundae –concept development.

Johnsonville Sausage – ideation sessions for Ready to Eat concepts.

Krystal – Chili Pups – concept development.

Wesson Oil – Writer, “The Fear of Frying” cookbook

Community and Professional Affiliations:

Options For All – Chairman of Development Committee, Board Member

NFL Alumni Motorcycle Club – Past President, support Caring for Kids

NFL Alumni Superbowl of Golf – Support Caring for Kids

Out of the Darkness – Suicide Prevention

Rincon Head Start Program

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Teen Challenge

Wounded Warriors

Holes for Heroes

Iraq Stars US Army Advisory Board

Education:

Johnson & Wales University School of Culinary Arts

Associate of Science – Culinary Arts

La Varenne Culinary School- Paris

Le Petite de Cuisine- London

Expert in the following Cuisines: Classic French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Indian, Mexican, English, German, Chinese, Mediterranean, Thai and Japanese.

Steve Cassarino aka Chef Roc

From 1984 to 2012, Steve Cassarino was known around the world as one of The Clever Cleaver Brothers.