Episode 52 - From Passaic to Prime Time: Chef Leia Gaccione’s Culinary Climb Artwork

Behind the Counter with the Food Czar

Behind the Counter with the Food Czar explores the stories of people who create community through their work and passion. Each episode features conversations with restaurant owners, influencers, charity leaders, and others making an impact in their neighborhoods.From building businesses to giving back, guests share their personal journeys, challenges, and successes. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a community supporter, or just someone who loves hearing inspiring stories, this podcast offers meaningful conversations about connection, resilience, and the power of people coming together.

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Behind the Counter with the Food Czar

Episode 52 - From Passaic to Prime Time: Chef Leia Gaccione’s Culinary Climb

July 08, 2025 • Heidi Blum

0:00 | 1:08:08

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In this episode, we sit down with the dynamic and fearless Chef Leia Gaccione, a well-known name in the New Jersey food scene. Born and raised in Passaic, Leia’s love for cooking was sparked early—her earliest memory of food inspiration comes from watching the original Iron Chef from Japan as a little girl. That curiosity quickly turned into passion, eventually leading her to culinary school with the intention of going into restaurant management—thanks in part to a lost college application by Montclair State that rerouted her path entirely. But the kitchen had other plans for her.

Leia’s journey took a turn when chefs in NJ and NYC took a chance on her—not because of her experience, but because of her drive, determination and potential. Once in the kitchen, she found her true calling. From there, she climbed the ranks with grit and grace, eventually landing high-profile roles under the wing of culinary icon Bobby Flay.

You may recognize Leia from your favorite food shows—she’s appeared on Iron Chef (this time as Bobby Flay’s Sous Chef), Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Top Chef. Now, she's bringing her experience, creativity and heart into her latest venture: The Saint Clair, a new restaurant set to open in Montclair, NJ on Church Street in July 2025.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about chasing your passion, trusting your instincts, and making a mark in the culinary world.

Follow Leia: @leiagaccione

Follow The Saint Clair: @thesaintclairnj

Location: The Saint Clair, Montclair NJ

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow, leave a review and share it with a friend. And you can follow me @heidiblum_foodczar on instagram for more behind-the-scenes content, updates and more.

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