Meet Joseph Gerace | Chef-Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Gerace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
To never sacrifice quality. Last year, lobster fishing drastically declined, and there were times where we could not get fresh product. I was offered frozen, but I did not want to sacrifice the integrity of our lobster rolls for a sub-par product. Even though it meant cancelling some events until fresh product was available, it was worth it because we kept our integrity. Our customers recognize that too, and that is what has helped make our brand so successful.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our business focuses on fresh, quality ingredients. We source what we can locally, and then of course, our lobster is flown in fresh from Maine. We pick it up from the airport ourselves, which can sometimes mean delays, but we want to serve the freshest product we can. It’s not just about serving a high-quality product, but it is about re-creating the most authentic New England lobster roll experience we can. I would say 80% of our customers are originally from the East Coast, and if we can make them happy, then that means we are doing it right.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My go-to spot is a little place by my house called Aloha Kitchen. I’ve tried to re-create the East Coast experience on my truck, and these guys have tried to re-create the Hawaiian experience- and they knock it out of the park. I have been going there for over 30 years, and growing up eating my Hawaiian aunt’s food – it just brings back such great memories. The food is simple, consistent, and unpretentious.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a great support of family and friends around me who always encourage me to keep going. I have some ambitious ideas in the works, and they never second guess me, and simply say, “Do it.”

Website: www.eastcoastjoes.com

Instagram: @eastcoastjoes

Facebook: www.facebook.com/eastcoastjoes