You would never know Firefly Executive Chef Paul Stellato, originally from Fort Lauderdale, went to the "school of hard knocks."

He said his success is due to being mentored by Roy Centanni, original owner of Canopies. Stellato has spent 25 years in the business between Canopies and Firefly, originally starting "out of the love of the food." He now caters dinner parties as the Catering Director and teaches private cooking lessons.

Stellato has served his fair share of celebrities.

"They eat with a fork and knife just like everyone else," he said.

Famous guests include President Barack Obama who came down for a visit in 2010 to reassure tourists after the BP oil spill. Obama ordered the New York Strip, "medium to medium rare," with Lobster mac & cheese, while Michelle Obama ordered the Broiled Twin Lobster Tails.

"He wasn't the first president I've cooked for, not my first rodeo," said Stellato, who also has cooked for Bill Clinton and Al Gore. "O.J. Simpson ate at Canopies the week he got out of jail."

Firefly first earned the Golden Spoon Award in 2010. He received a letter in the mail, telling him they had the Crispy Eggplant Pancakes and Espresso and Tomato Braised Free-Range Texas Boar Shank.

What would Stellato order?

"Actually, I'd order the duck. It's got a three berry - raspberry, blackberry and blueberry - sauce.

Stellato is still serving the same She Crab soup recipe at Firefly that he served at Canopies, now selling 10 to 15 gallons each day. While you try to decide what to order, whet your appetite with the Roma tomato puree spread. Stellato said he roasts Roma tomatoes in the oven with extra-virgin olive oil and salt and pepper on them. He separately roasts garlic and then combines the tomatoes and garlic in a food processor.

The menu is filled with sauces, "what people expect," Stellato said when they come out for "something special, but simple ingredients.

"When you go out and spend $30 to $40 on a meal, you want to know what you're getting and that you will like it," Stellato said. "Sometimes people get adventurous. I think you should do that with your wines, not your food. Know you're going to enjoy it."

Stellato has made a point to venture out from local standards, although there is still a lot of local flavor. You won't find grouper imperial or key lime pie on the Firefly menu.There also are no windows in Firefly, which is why he likes to call it the "casino."

And when he's home, he stays out of the kitchen, while his wife, Anne Stellato, does all of the cooking, from meatloaf to pork chops.

"Shake and bake and I'm a happy guy," he said with a laugh. "I get so little of it."

Stellato and his wife, now grandparents, have three daughters: Ashley is the oldest, Barbara is in the middle and his youngest daughter, Jennifer, is one of the hostesses at Firefly.

Although you won't find any type of grouper on Firefly's menu, Chef Paul Stellato shared his recipe for Almond Crusted Grouper.