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Our Team of Associates
Dina Marino, RD, CDN, CDE
Dina is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian Nutritionist,
and Certified Diabetes Educator. Her expertise
for the Life Focus Nutrition Centers are in diabetes
self management, weight loss, bariatric nutrition intervention
gestational diabetes, cardiac health and preventative
nutrition. Currently she offers group and individual
weight loss and diabetes education programs for clients.
Her professional affiliations include membership of the
American Dietetic Association, and the Westchester Rockland
Dietetic Association. Dina holds a bachelors degree
from Marymount College, and currently she is completing
of her Masters Degree in Community Nutrition.
Phyllis Schondorf, CDN
Phyllis Schondorf is a Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist.
Her expertise for the Life Focus Nutrition Centers are
community outreach and editing of nutrition education
materials. She also offers individualized tours at supermarkets
to create personalized pantries, adding less-traditional
foods for more variety in a healthy menu. With her ability
to modify recipes, your favorites will remain tasty
while fitting in with dietary guidelines.
She is a member of the American Dietetic Association
and the Westchester Rockland Dietetic Association. Phyllis
holds a bachelors degree from Cornell University in
Food and Nutrition, and a Certificate in Broadcast Journalism
from NYU.
Chef Daniel Lanzilotta
 A Multi-faceted Lifestyle Artist Directed by a "Back-to-Basics" Approach
As much a creative chef as a multi-faceted culinary industry professional, Chef Daniel Lanzilotta has spent the last two decades plus embracing the art of cooking while seizing all opportunities to share his message of a mindful lifestyle.
An adventurous spirit has carried Chef Lanzilotta across continents; he has worked in kitchens in Paris, Biarritz, Los Angeles, New York City and Fairfield County, CT. He is a proponent of "back to basics" eating that supports an awareness of local and organic foods. He is an advocate in raw food preparation, juicing and cleansing. Along with his commitment to using fresh, seasonal food with a sound environmental approach, Daniel lives a life of vegetarian diet and environmental activism. He is a proponent of free will and sensible choices not disregarding other people's food choices.
Professional Pursuits
Chef Lanzilotta is the dynamic force which propels The Mindful Chef, his discriminating professional chef service specializing in organic, in-home fine dining and full-service event catering. Daniel's innovative menus balance his clients' varied tastes with his ability to elevate event fare to cuisine which captures his guests' attention and remains in their memory.
"Chef Daniel" also offers customized cooking classes for adults and children, specializing in healthful meal preparation. In collaboration with professional therapists, he developed his signature "family interactive cooking" concept which is used to encourage family unity and parent-child bonding, and aids in conflict resolution.
As a recognized expert in culinary concept development, Lanzilotta offers restaurant consulting services on progressive menu re-engineering, the latest organic food trends, and distinctive, creative branding. Daniel advocates critical forward thinking regarding the future of food and all of its ramifications. In a nut shell he is a "food futurist".
Early Influences
Daniel was raised in a multi-generational, Italian-American household in The Bronx, NY. Chef Daniel likes to say that he was raised on a farm: The Bronx. He inherited a love of cooking from his mother and grandmothers, with whom he tended their garden of herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees.
In the mid-80's, Daniel developed his culinary talents and professional acumen under the tutelage of renowned chef and restaurateur Michael McCarty of Michael's in Santa Monica. It was here, in the early days of "California Cuisine" under the Alice Waters influence, that Daniel re-established a connection to unprocessed food, fresh from its natural source
Community Involvement and Accolades
Daniel has volunteered his time to a number of worthy organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Westport Nature Center, Interfaith Housing of Westport, Project Return, and Child Guidance Centers of Greenwich, Connecticut.
Chef Daniel Lanzilotta is a firm believer in culinary education. Daniel's mantra is to tend the garden and nourish a child's interest in food early on. Good food takes time to make. Chef Lanzilotta has been a Chef Instructor with Westport, Connecticut's Board of Education's Continuing Education Program for nearly four years and with Wilton, CT's Continuing Education for two years.
Chef Daniel successfully completed the Herbal Green Medicine Certificate Program with Herbalist Peeka Trenkle. He has also taken Herbal Green Medicine Making with Robin Bennett.
Daniel also successfully completed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program with the Westport Police Department.
Daniel was appointed by Westport's First Selectmen Gordon Joseloff to the Celebrate Westport Committee in 2006. Chef Daniel played a pivotal role in establishing both Westport's Farmers Market and Westport's first edible school garden at Staples High School. Chef Lanzilotta is an active member of GVI, Green Village Initiative.
When he's not fueling his artistic spirit in the kitchen, Daniel hones his talents as an artist and sculptor.
A member of the James Beard Foundation, Daniel graduated with top honors from the New York Restaurant School, in addition to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree he holds from Carnegie-Mellon University. While living in France, Daniel received the Merite et Devouement award in Biarritz for his contribution to French culture.
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