Dads in the Limelight – Short Order Dad, Robert Rosenthal
Our 656th Dad in the Limelight is Short Order Dad, Robert Rosenthal. I want to thank Robert Rosenthal for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Robert Rosenthal with all of you.
1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
My name is Robert Rosenthal. I am a former international ad exec, accumulated three million frequent flier miles while being paid to present creative concepts around the world. A good gig, no doubt, but the best part was overeating in 3,000 restaurants on six continents with great local friends and associates. That kept me busy during the day, while at night I performed my standup routine in all of New York City’s top comedy clubs and earned a professional cooking degree from the Institute of Culinary Education. Now I combine all those pursuits and passions to write and host programs about food and cooking – hopefully with a soupçon of humor – both live and on-camera. I suppose I’m in the limelight at the moment because I have a cookbook just out – directed to dads, by the way – that started shipping this week: Short Order Dad – One Guy’s Guide to Making Food Fun and Hassle-Free.
2) Tell me about your family
One thing about my family is that we all really love being together. Just lucky. That might not sound altogether unusual, but when you have teenage daughters who actually enjoy spending time with their parents, that’s a very good thing. We eat dinner together at every possible opportunity, and I am their personal chef. My daughters are fabulous in many ways, but rather than bore you with that, I would tell you that one thing they never agree on is what they want for breakfast. For one it’s egg whites only, the other wants scrambled. Turkey bacon for one sister, bacon bacon for the other. One must have whole wheat toast, the other insists on white toast. Chocolate milk, skim milk. You get the idea. I looked at them one day and said, “what do I look like, a short order cook?” Yeah, they replied, you’re Short Order Dad. The rest, as they say…
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
I think it’s the same challenge that every parent faces. How do you raise mature, sensitive, nice, caring, happy, healthy kids in an increasingly complex and often times dangerous world. I guess we just try to pay them a lot of our attention, teach them the difference between right and wrong, instill in them a sense of self-confidence, and keep our fingers crossed that when it comes time for them to make their own decisions, they make a lot more good ones than bad.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
I’m not sure I’m comfortable giving advice to other fathers on matters other than how to get the most taste with the fewest ingredients and the least effort. But I’d be willing to share this observation of the obvious: it helps your kids immeasurably to know that you love them unconditionally and that you will always be there for them. Always remember that you are the model for them. The way you interact with your wife, for example, is how they will come to understand how women should be treated and how relationships should work. Oh, and put down your phone and be FULLY with them. Make every moment matter; you don’t need me to remind you how fast the time flies by. Just look at your own family photos…wistfully.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
Look, obviously your kids come first. But you do need to make private time for your spouse, your friends and yourself. There is no magic formula for that. Just do it.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
That I like bourbon.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
The same as any other father; that fatherhood is the most rewarding experience there is and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them…except make one more trip to Disneyworld.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
Witnessing childbirth. Family vacations. Pizza nights.
Do you want to learn how to cook some great food with Robert Rosenthal? If so, I have a great giveaway to offer you one of his books, and I will be awarding this to two winners.
How to Enter!
- Comment here about your favorite cooking memory!
- ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
If you have any questions for Robert Rosenthal, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!
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