WATERTOWN, Conn. (WFSB) – Celebrity chef Scott Conant returned to his hometown for a cookbook signing that drew hundreds of fans.
Conant, a Watertown native who stars as a judge on the hit reality show “Chopped” and owns award-winning restaurants, spent the day at LaBonne’s Market signing copies of his cookbook and brand new jarred sauce Martone Street.
Fans waited in line for two and a half hours to meet the culinary star.
“People didn’t pay this much attention to me when I lived here, I’ll tell you that much, so I think you gotta leave and come back. But this is a blessing, it really is,” Conant said. “To be able to talk about Martone Street and the family lineage and the legacy, in the spirit of that family legacy that we started this company with, and see the reaction of people, what’s better? Honestly.”
Conant said his new sauce is based on his grandparents’ recipe. They moved to Waterbury from southern Italy and settled on Martone Street.
“I always say food is a conduit for connection, and we wanted to create a company that was telling that story,” Conant said.
When asked what Connecticut means to him, Conant said the state has its own unique food culture.
“This was a place that has its own unique food culture, by the way — great food in Waterbury, Connecticut,” he said. “It was where I started, and so I never forget that foundation that was created here for me with these wonderful people.”
Many people who waited in line have known the Conant family for decades. Conant’s sister Becky and mom Anne said the outpouring of love was almost overwhelming.
“I pulled into the parking lot and I started crying. I couldn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Amazing, all these people for my brother,’” Becky Conant said. “It’s unbelievable.”
Anne Conant said she was grateful for all the people who came out.
“It’s amazing, it really is, and I’m so grateful for all these people, people we haven’t seen in years,” she said.
Scott Conant said his mom was the real star of the day.
“It’s amazing to see the people coming through that want to say hello to her, people that she hasn’t seen in 50 years or even longer. I don’t want to say her age, I don’t want her to hit me, but it’s really special,” he said.
The line was so long some people had to be turned away. Conant met with nearly 400 people and promises to come back soon. He plans to return to LaBonne’s in September.
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