Rothong , who grew up in Wayne and now lives in Greenwich , Connecticut , is achef , culinary producer , food stylist and recipe developer who has frequently appeared on Food Network competitions and the ABC show The Chew .

Fans of the latter may know her as Chef Sparkles — aname coined by show host Michael Symon that has followed Rothong throughout her career .

The nickname was born when the then 21-year-old Rothong walked on the set ofThe Chew , where she worked as an assistant before moving on to run the test kitchen . She was wearing ashirt covered in sparkles , and when the camera lights hit her , she was “ sparkling like adisco ball ,” she laughs . Before Symon and the rest of the hosts knew her actual name , they affectionately referred to her as Sparkles .

She ’ snow 33 and has come along way from her “ Sparkles ” days . She ’ s gone on towin on Food Network ’ s

JACKIE ROTHONG

Chopped and on the Cooking Channel ’ s Budget Battle . She beat Bobby Flay once — and appeared on his show twice — and competed on Cutthroat Kitchen on the Food Network .

On the day-to-day , she develops approachable recipes and shares her cooking tips online and on television . She ’ s amassed thousands of fans on Instagram — folks hoping to learn practical ways to excel in the kitchen .

“ I don ’ t say no to anything ,” she says of her work , from sharing tips on Good Morning America to shooting photos of cocktails for a new app .

As ayoung girl in Wayne , Rothong was devoted to her mother ’ s and Nana ’ s cooking . She attended DePaul Catholic High School .

“ I mostly loved eating ,” she says . She watched as her Nana studied cookbook recipes , then expertly improvised to make meals her own . “ I thought , ‘ Am Iever going to be able to cook with that much ease ?’” she says .

She tried her hand at baking with a stint at Wayne pastry shop Gencarelli ’ s . Rothong proved a worthy pastry chef , making cheesecakes and other pastries by the dozen .

Rothong attended Seton Hall University , then Montclair University and finally studied at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City . She interned at the Rachel Ray Show , where she learned what a food stylist was , and later freelanced for Rachel Ray In Season magazine .

COURTESY OF PAUL H . CHRISTIAN / YTC STUDIOS

30 MAY 2022 WAYNE MAGAZINE