Editor’s note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at benanti@siadvance.com.
Chef/author Dean Kropp (Courtesy/Dean Kropp)Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gold Medal-Winning Pastry Chef, Dean J. Kropp, the renowned actor and author who doubles as a food consultant — and the culinary guru who’s spent several years cooking for celebrities and catering for film crews — has yet another story to tell.
The Sunnyside resident has penned his latest book titled “Memories Nobody Wants – Pastry Chef Whipped by No-Fault: It was Out of My Hands from the Beginning,” which Kropp calls ,“a public service message about No-Fault Insurance in New York.”
In his narrative the author explains the trials and tribulations and all that he was forced to endure after car accidents back in 2000 and 2004, where he sustained injuries resulting in his being unable to continue his career.
Kropp thought he was covered by his car insurance. But as it turned out he wasn’t covered completely and the results were heart wrenching — including an IRS audit and Kropp being subsequently sued for medical expenses.
Celebrity chef/author Dean Kropp (Courtesy/Dean Kropp)Staten Island Advance
“Supposedly No-Fault car insurance makes sure you get your injuries taken care of, so you don’t have to go to court,” he noted. “Unfortunately, these two car accidents sent my life spinning out of control with never having a chance of even having one leg to stand on to get better. The situations were out of my hands from the beginning.”
Kropp says that all he can do about it at this point is to tell his story in his new book because he doesn’t want anyone to go through what he did. “Now you can be the judge.”
“New York State drivers need to know about the No-Fault handbook,” he continues. “The book gives the injured person a list of doctors to see after getting injured in a car accident, by no fault of their own.”
The cover of Dean Kropp’s book titled “Memories Nobody Wants – Pastry Chef Whipped by No-Fault” – It Was Out of My Hands From the Beginning. (Courtesy/Dean Kropp)Staten Island Advance
Kropp’s book is available on amazon.com and has been approved for a 2026 Pulitzer in the Memoir category.
It’s on KDP Amazon in multiple formats: regular print, large print and ebook. Here’s the regular print link; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJ5R3512 and larger print, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPCZ2WSS
MORE ON DEAN KROPP
Originally from Chicago, after culinary school Kropp set out to “blaze a path” in culinary arts.
After training in Chicago with a Swiss pastry chef, he went on to work in hotels and pastry shops from Memphis (Hotel Peabody), Napa Valley (Yountville Pastry Shop), Montego Bay Jamaica (Wyndham Rose Hall Hotel), and finally landing in New York City.
Chef/author Dean Kropp salutes at the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence. (Courtesy/Dean Kropp)Staten Island Advance
He set up kitchens and cooked for movie stars on sets, which started in Chicago with John Belushi (1949-1982) to James Earl Jones (1931-2024) in New York City.
Kropp has been published out of Paris, France in 2010 and 2012 for his articles on the History of the Culinary Olympics that started in 1900, Frankfurt, Germany.
He also is a published photographer in the book “New York Living” published by Rizzoli, New York in 2017.
Kropp recently produced a documentary on his career including the accidents that changed the direction of his life. The QR Code in the book can be scanned to access the documentary.
CELEBRATIONS – DEC. 7 TO DEC. 13
DEC. 7
Sunday is birthday time for Jim Canfield, Jenna Cauldwell, Harvey Urbach, Rich Dimaio, Cory Torjesen, Tracey Currenti and Hayley Augustyne.
DEC. 8
Birthday greetings on Monday go to Kristen Long, Artie Fernandez, Sal Troia, Sylvia Lara, Barbara Pizzo, Dana Walker, Kathleen Marie Bozzo who turns 20, Keri-Lynn Flagello, Andy LaChance, Aiden Kelly, Cathy Mione, Mike Fiducia, Martha Falcone and Christopher Castore who turns 49.
DEC. 9
Happy birthday Tuesday to George Fries and Michael McWeeney.
DEC. 10
The happiest of birthdays Wednesday to Jeff Shelley, co-owner of M & J Dance Ballroom Dance, Diane Lee, Rose Currenti, Nicholas Francis Machia, Geri Anne Borkowski, Matthew Cintulla, Gina Maria Magras and Steven “Boef” Blaine will turn 68.
DEC. 11
Birthday best on Thursday to attorney, Christine Martin, Danny Schnell, Judi LaMantia, Ann Kobayashi, Joshua Carp, Michael Adamo, who turns 31, Meghan Haag, a former Miss Staten Island’s Outstanding Teen.
DEC. 12
Celebrating birthdays on Friday are Caitlyn Nicole Tobio and Jade Regina who turn 25, Darnise DiRocca, Frank Reali, Lucille O’Keefe, Meghan Timmins, Alexis Lynn Galant, Roberta Dixon, Caitlin Noelle McHugh, Lisa Macron, Dr. Joseph Castellano, Timothy Sweeney, Elvira Tepedino Noss, Nina Prashker and Kristie Rose Finamore.
DEC. 13
Happy birthday Saturday to Susan Huckvale Arann, Rob Horn who turns 43, Anthony Taylor who turns 18, Anthony David Socci, Linda Woods, Dennis Daniel Donovan, Tony Lordo Jr., Michael Pellechia and twins Victoria and Adrienne Scrima.