Westhampton Beach Grad Creates 'Monster Donut' on the Food Network

If you were one of the many to watch The Food Network’s, “Monster Kitchen,” which aired on July 19, you witnessed Mike Fiorelli doing what he does best: creating masterpieces in the kitchen. 

Fiorelli, who grew up in East Moriches and graduated Westhampton Beach High School, recently teamed up with LA chef Eric Greenspan for the new show, which premiered with an episode, called Monster Donut where the pair faced off to see who could make the biggest donut.

Fiorelli, who thrills diners at Terranea, a Los Angeles’ ocean-front resort, as chef de cuisine at mar’sel, said he was casted on the show after randomly meeting a casting agent.

“He invited me to the studio and I answered about thirty minutes of questions. That was it,” he said.

He said he later learned that the casting team selected him for his “trash talking east coast swagger.”

From the beginning Fiorelli says that he wasn’t sure about creating a “monster donut. The size aspect, he said was ridiculous. 

“I don’t make donuts and I most certainly don’t make big food. My cooking is very intimate and personal. The complete opposite of this challenge.”

However, after doing the show he realized the premise of making a larger than life donut made the show more entertaining.

Fiorelli says he wasn’t nervous while filming, but said he couldn’t help feeling conscious about what he said and did.

“It’s a different experience having a camera in your face all day.”

With the show behind him, Fiorelli said his focus is on his restaurant and continuing to push himself to cook the best food. He said he has a long-term goal to have the freedom to choose the projects that he wants to do; as opposed to taking certain work because he needs the paycheck. 

“The more exposure you can create for yourself, the more ability you have to choose things that you are passionate about or that are stimulating to you,” he said.