Positively Philadelphia: Chef's Journey From Trauma To Catering
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - In 2012, life was going well for Harley Blaisdell. He had been a chef for years, and a television food stylist, with dreams of opening his own catering business.
But then...
"I was in a serious car accident where I sustained a TBI, and I was pretty much knocked out of commission for two and a half years," he tells KYW Newsradio.
Blaisdell describes life with a traumatic brain injury:
"Disoriented, confused, loss of memory. You have no concept as to what is really going on."
At Bryn Mawr Rehab, they used cooking to help him recover.
"They developed a program based around what my profession was," he explains. "It would almost be like a surprise box as to what I can make with four items. And it came together, and without that, I wouldn't be where I'm at today.
Today he has his own company, Blaize Catering, setting up shop recently at the Artisan Exchange in West Chester.
"One of the biggest stresses in the kitchen is the endurance," says Blaisdell. "Once I was able to put in a solid day's work. It was probably the biggest accomplishment, and it really gave me the drive to go to the next level."
And he is just so delighted to be back once again creating and cooking delicious food:
"It's going well."
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And for this week, that's "Positively Philadelphia!"