Commack Celebrity Chef Picks Hometown Favorites

The star of Food Network's Kid in a Candy Store began his career on Town Line Road – walking to North Ridge Primary School.

"I walked to North Ridge and Commack High School. Took the bus to the Middle School. It's a great, safe, encouraging place to grow up. My parents still live there and I try to get to Commack as often as I can," Adam Gertler said.

Gertler was a finalist in Season 4 of The Next Food Network Star and hosted an episode of Extreme Sweets on Food Network. He also hosted the Will Work for Food primetime series in 2009. But his passion for food dates back to his trips along Commack Road.

"My strongest food memory [from Commack] is of the hotdogs at Pastrami and Friends on Commack Road. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better one. The way they 'snap' when you bite them … they  just do them right, you can't make them like that at home. We used to go into the deli to get dinner or food to bring home, and I'd always have a hotdog first," Gertler said.

Gertler's first job in food service was on Jericho Turnpike – at the Dunkin Donuts across from the Mayfair Shopping Center.

"I'm partial to the Boston cream donuts," Gertler said.

While at Commack High School, Gertler often stopped at Commack Breakfast on Commack Road, for their cinnamon rolls and "hungry man special,"  a heaping portion of eggs, ham and bacon all packed into a hero. It's something you can only eat when you're in high school, Gertler said.

A performer from an early age, Gertler was also active in theater productions, musicals and the performing arts program in Commack schools.

Gertler says he had constant support and encouragement in the Commack school system. He cites teachers Ted Kastrinos, Ellen Strier and John Long as his mentors. Long, Gertler said, cast him as Hamlet in his senior year of CHS. 

"I had the reputation of a performer. It was a great place to be one. I always felt like I could do anything growing up," Gertler said.

His new show – Kid in a Candy Store – premieres on Monday at 8 p.m., with a sneak-peek airign after Sunday's episode of The Next Food Network Star at 10:30 p.m..

"The Food Network will be running two back-to-back new episodes on Mondays for the first three weeks," Gertler said.

"If you like desserts, cupcakes, brownies, taffy – any of that stuff – this show explores how it's made. We visit the Treats Truck in NYC and go inside the Peeps factory to see how Peeps are made," Gertler said.

Gertler's memorable food experiences from filming include the ice cream from Las Paletas, in Nashville, Tenn., the Creole Creamery in New Orleans, La., and Kick-Ass Cupcakes in Boston, Mass.