Hillary reveals Girl Scouts DO exist in Brooklyn!

Chef Hillary Sterling is the Executive Chef at Vic's, the popular NoHo Italian-Mediterranean restaurant from restaurateurs Vicki Freeman and Marc Meyer (also of Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Rosie's). A born and bred New Yorker, Chef Hillary previously worked at A Voce under Missy Robbins and Lupa Osteria Romana and Mesa Grill. Hillary was named one of StarChefs Rising Stars in 2011 and works closely with Share Our Strength to help end childhood hunger.  At Vic's, Hillary focuses on a menu of locally sourced Italian inspired dishes, including house made pastas and pizzas and market-driven plates cooked in the wood burning oven. @hillarysterling23

First memory of campfire cookery?

Some of my earliest memories of cooking over open fire was when i was a girl scout ( yes there are girl scouts from brooklyn) ! Once a year they took us to go camping upstate new york. My first year, i was so excited with my new sleeping bag and supplies packed for this adventure. When we arrived that night, dinner was served in the cafeteria and then we got to roast marshmallows to make smores. I think i was more excited to watch the change of the puffy white marshmallow to sleek smooth shiny black cylinder then i was to actually eat the gooey mess. 

Favorite memory around a bonfire?

Growing up we spent our summers in montauk, beach bonfires watching the sunset with friends eating freshly roasted clams right out of the fire. 

Worst experience in the outdoors?

In college we had this party every year at a camp grounds, it was dark, hard, raining and in a field with no cover.  This was one of my first times sleeping in a tent and couldn't understand why people loved camping after this experience. I thought the sun would never come up. but it eventually did but definitely this experience scared me for a while. 

Can't wait to?

Cooking outside and building fires are such an art, there are so many variables weather, wind, the cooking medium but there is no barriers.