About Us
“Great chefs cook from the heart because food is love.”
Born and raised on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, Chef Lasse Sorensen is no stranger to food. Growing up, he spent a lot of time in the kitchen helping his father, who was a pastry chef for the royal family. He then went on to complete several apprenticeships before earning his own title as a master chef, even joining the Culinary Olympic Team of Denmark, before moving to the United States in 1989 to pursue even more opportunities, including his dream of opening his own restaurant. For more than 20 years, Sorensen, along with his wife Mary Jane, have owned and operated a fine dining restaurant named Tom’s Place in Southern Illinois.
His culinary experience, paired with his passion for St. Louis and its diverse culture sparked the idea for “Food is Love,” a series that not only focuses on the area’s best and most authentic food dishes, but also the concept of how food can bring people together.
From Philippine dishes off the popular Delmar Loop to Korean food located just off the Landing, there’s no limit to what one can find in the Gateway to the West. As he explores local neighborhoods and the stories of the cooks behind each restaurant, he’s able to connect with individuals and better understand their backgrounds as well as the struggles they may have faced along the way.
SORENSEN’S MISSION
Sorensen believes his show will help people to open their hearts to new ideas and experiences they never would have had before. During periods of hardship or unrest, now, more than ever, is the time to bring people together. “Food is what connects us all together,” Sorensen says, “no matter where we come from.”
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