Whom You Know: MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Natalia Rusin, R.D. Culinary Nutritionist

Friday, May 15, 2009

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Natalia Rusin, R.D. Culinary Nutritionist

At Rouge Tomate, Natalia Rusin shares her extensive knowledge in nutrition and culinary arts. She works closely with executive chef Jeremy Bearman to create, develop, and serve seasonal, well-balanced cuisine. Natalia received her AS Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University in 1999 and earned a BS in Culinary Nutrition in 2001 as a member of the first graduating class in this new program, which is accredited by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Throughout her education, she held various positions in the areas of culinary arts and nutrition at Savory Solutions, Smart Mouth Technologies and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She was then selected to attended New York Presbyterian Hospital's dietetic internship program where she experienced a wide range of clinical nutrition in a hospital setting, assessed the nutrition status of patients and performed nutrient analyses. During this time she also worked as a personal chef, cooking for clients with specific nutritional needs.

Natalia spent several years splitting her time between hospitals and kitchens, working as a clinical dietician at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and continuing as a personal chef in the evenings. In 2006, Natalia realized that she could utilize both skill sets and joined CulinArt Incorporated, a boutique dining service company as their nutrition specialist in the culinary development department. At this position, she was able to create and implement healthy food programs in a wide range of food service operations and train chefs on nutrition and healthy cooking.

Natalia's experience as a chef and dietician enables her to train and work with the kitchen staff at Rouge Tomate to prepare seasonal menus compliant with the principles of S.P.E.®, a nutritional charter developed by chefs and dieticians that offer a balanced approach to sourcing, preparing and enhancing food.

Peachy Deegan interviewed Natalia Rusin for Whom You Know.

Peachy Deegan: What are your favorite foods?
Natalia Rusin: Lobster, black cherries, aged gouda, nectarines, avocados, chickpeas, fried chicken, peanut butter, strawberry shortcake….

What inspires you to create new dishes?
Bright colorful produce, especially when it is from a local farm. When I have to wait 9 months for black cherries, when they are finally in season I get so inspired!

What is the key to success in creating a dish that will be more fabulous than all of the other dishes in Manhattan?
A good palate, an open mind and experience.

What are the most common nutritional mistakes people make?
They fall into the trap of deceptive food marketing such as “energy bars” or water that is supplemented with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants…. I try to eat as naturally as possible.

How is Rouge Tomate healthier than many Manhattan restaurants?
Our first focus is fruits and vegetables. We make almost everything from scratch. We limit saturated fat and promote foods containing healthy fats (omega 3 fatty acids), we use cooking methods that preserve or enhance the nutrients in each dish, and then balance the ingredients on each plate and combine ingredients that have synergy for added benefit.

What is your favorite place to be in NYC?
Out to dinner in one of the many fabulous restaurants with my fiancé.

What is your favorite shop?
Fresh, Anthropology

What is your favorite drink?
Harpoon Pale Ale, Genmai Cha, Gruners, The Green Tornado at Rouge Tomate

What is your favorite restaurant?
Eleven Madison Park (Gormand Tasting is my best dining experience ever)

What is your favorite NYC book?
The Age of Innocence or Dry

What is your favorite thing to do in NYC that you can do nowhere else?
Run the Brooklyn Bridge.

What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
New Yorkers friendliness, we’re just busy and don’t have time for small talk every time we interact with someone. Overrated- The Food Emporium

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I have been a personal chef for 6+ years. Even though I am a registered dietitian I still use bacon, cheese, and butter just in moderation. Eating is 80% what you need and 20% enjoyment.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
email n.rusin@rougetomate.com

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/