Title: Regional chef/partner, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Age: 33

Hometown: Born in Chicago, grew up in St. Louis.

Who or what was your first cooking influence? My parents. My dad did a lot of the cooking. Mom did some of the baking. Dad did a lot of the savory cooking, everything from barbecuing to pizzas.

Photo by Michael DonahueMIchael Donahue/The Commercial Appeal

MIchael Donahue/The Commercial Appeal

Bill Kloos is regional chef/partner at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

What was the first thing you ever cooked or baked? Probably helping make meatloaf or something simple like that. Baking cookies. I'm sure I was helping at 10.

What made you decide to become a chef and when was that? Probably at 17 or 18. For me, that was kind of the best option out there. I did enjoy it. It was between that and architecture, design kind of stuff. I wasn't much into school. So, the fact of being able to work my way up and do it through hands-on experiences was really good for me.

What was your first food-related job? Busing tables at a fine dining restaurant in St. Louis. I think it was called Sunset West.

What was something important that a fellow chef taught you? Never experiment on a guest.

What is the Bill Kloos style? Steaks and seafood. The American classics. Hearty.

What do you cook or bake at home, if anything? I enjoy making homemade pizza at home from scratch.

What's your least favorite ingredient? Look at me. There's not a lot I don't like.

-- Michael Donahue: 529-2797

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is at 6245 Poplar, 761-6200.