Dish: Red Beans & Rice with Smoked Turkey and Andouille Sausage
Chef Mike Tramber
Company: Precision Ocular Network
Title: Chief Clinical Officer
What can we find you doing when you're not whipping up a dish for Men Who Cook?
When I’m not whipping up a dish for Men Who Cook, I’m either being joyfully outnumbered by my five grandkids, pretending I know what I’m doing while cooking food from random parts of the world, sampling wines strictly for “educational purposes,” surviving CrossFit workouts, or traveling with my wife of 30 years—who still agrees to go places with me, remarkably.
Why is it important to you to give back (to the SECU Family House)?
Giving back to the SECU Family House is important to me because I’ve seen how overwhelming—both emotionally and financially—a serious illness can be for families. When your focus should be on a loved one’s recovery, the added stress of travel, lodging, and expenses can feel unbearable. The support provided by SECU Family House helps ease that burden, making travel more manageable and reducing the financial strain, so families can focus on what matters most—being together during a very difficult time.
What was the first thing you remember cooking?
I was lucky enough to have a mother who taught me to cook at a very early age. While I can’t recall the very first thing I made, I do remember being in first or second grade and being asked to write a recipe for class. Many of my classmates proudly turned in instructions for making a PB&J. I, on the other hand, submitted a very detailed recipe for frying chicken—which probably raised a few eyebrows and, in hindsight, explains a lot.
Name a fun fact people may not know about you.
A fun fact people may not know about me is that my wife and I are on a mission to visit every winery in North Carolina—approximately 200 of them. So far, we’ve made it to around 130, and along the way we’ve learned a lot about different varietals, growing regions, and the winemaking process. As a result, you’ll find that my wine selection leans heavily toward local North Carolina wines—all thoroughly “researched,” of course.
Chef Cherie Tramber
Company:
Title:
What can we find you doing when you're not whipping up a dish for Men Who Cook?
Why is it important to you to give back (to the SECU Family House)?
What was the first thing you remember cooking?
Name a fun fact people may not know about you.
Chef Mike Tramber II
Company:
Title:
What can we find you doing when you're not whipping up a dish for Men Who Cook?
Why is it important to you to give back (to the SECU Family House)?
What was the first thing you remember cooking?
Name a fun fact people may not know about you.