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 other 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 called 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 Tunisian food in Benton Park to Korean food on the Landing, viewers follow along as Chef Lasse explores local neighborhoods and the stories of the cooks behind each restaurant."Telling the story of the person cooking is really telling the story of the food" says Chef Lasse.