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 | Junior League of Colorado Springs This hip and healthy kids' cafe features yummy, good-for-you food for kids, parents, and even babies! Shannon & Kelly took all the challenges of dining out with their own young kids and created solutions—from complimentary stroller parking stalls in the front lobby, to tables with edges that reduce the amount of spilled milk. Under the guidance of a child nutritionist, Bean Sprouts gives families a 30-minute vacation. Its innovative kid-friendly design removes the reluctance for parents to take their kids out to eat, while appealing to adults with its chic atmosphere. More importantly, it relieves parents’ guilt of feeding children hot dogs and deep-fried foods, the usual kids' menu fare. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF JL of BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CALGARY To learn more, visit - http://www.calgarystampede.com |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CLEVELAND, INC.
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 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF GREENVILLE, SC |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HAMILTON-BURLINGTON Prior to Jason starting his own Personal Chef Services, he has worked from numerous positions as Co–Chef, Corporate Chef, Sous Chef as well as Executive Chef. Such establishments include Kerbs Restaurants, Riverbank Steakhouse & Restaurant, Harrop Art Gallery, Firkin Group of Pubs and Old School Restaurant. While incorporating French, Italian and Canadian elements and technique help Jason create unique and modern culinary experiences. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HAMILTON-BURLINGTON In 1995 Chris was seduced by the bright lights of London and accepted the position of Sous Chef under Christian Deltiel at the multi award winning Bank restaurant. He then moved to Marco Pierre Whites world-renowned QuoVadis and L’Escargot restaurants where he was senior Sous chef rising quickly to the premier position of Head Chef. Chris ended his love affair with London at La Rascasse restaurant in Mayfair where he led the restaurant as Executive Head Chef to many acclaims and awards. As an avid traveler Chris claims to have tasted his way around the Europe and beyond, dining at many of the worlds best restaurants. It is with this experience he has crafted his knowledge, appreciation and flair for great food. His clever ability to take classic dishes and adapt them to modern tastes ensures dining at Spencer’s will be a gastronomic experience to remember. |
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 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HIGH POINT, NC Charles the Chef grew through Roosevelt's experience with relatives who struggled with obesity. He witnessed first hand how unhealthy eating habits were passed on to children. His goal is to help break the cycle by sharing with children the importance of eating healthy and being active without leaving out the fun. Charles the Chef also helps parents by easing the resistance they may encounter when trying to introduce healthy foods to their kids. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HUNTSVILLE, AL Helen Defrance and Leslie Carpenter On Friday, Helen DeFrance and Leslie Carpenter will assist local foster children in preparing two dishes from their cookbook. On Saturday we will host a public Kids In the Kitchen cooking show during our first annual Spring Market. Helen DeFrance and Leslie Carpenter wrote the book on teaching kids to cook. At Home Café: Great Food and Fun for Everyone! serves up cooking as a family activity where the kids are full participants in the meal-making process. The former caterers met while both were teaching cooking classes at The Everyday Gourmet, a Jackson, Mississippi, cooking school and discovered an immediate rapport. Soon they were teaching month-long children's courses together and developing a joint venture known as Kids Are Cooking! with Helen and Leslie. Kids Are Cooking! with Helen and Leslie now offers classes at preschools, schools, cooking schools and luxury hotels such as Blackberry Farm near Knoxville, TN. Helen and Leslie prefer a hands-on approach to teaching kids to cook, involving them in every aspect of meal preparation from menu planning to grocery shopping, cooking, eating the delicious results, and cleaning up. With the publication of At Home Café, Helen and Leslie are taking their message of bringing families together through cooking on the road and into homes all across America. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF JACKSONVILLE, INC. Robert Tulko Chef Robert Tulko graduated with honors from the Southeast Culinary Arts School. He can be seen on Good Morning Jacksonville and Good Morning Jacksonville Saturday. As a Corporate Chef for Winn Dixie and Certified Executive Chef, he has many awards under his belt including gold, silver, and bronze medals for culinary competitions and ice carvings. Chef Robert has trained and worked in many countries, including France, Germany, Italy, England and the Orient. He has also worked with the pastry chef in the White House. Aside from his extraordinary culinary talents, Chef Robert loves children and animals. Chef's Role in the Junior League of Jacksonville Kids in the Kitchen program: Chef Robert Tulko spoke to teenage girls at The PACE Center for Girls about the importance of healthy eating habits. He made learning about nutrition very fun for his audience by speaking about chocolate, fruit, upcoming Thanksgiving recipes, and his own memories of Thanksgiving as a teen, and he allowed plenty of time for questions from the girls. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LANCASTER Betsey Gerstein Sterenfeld Chef Sterenfeld founded Essen, a recreational cooking school located in Lancaster, in 2006, bringing her life-long passions and commitment of wellness, food planning/preparation, and leadership together. After years of hearing her friends vent their concerns and frustrations about what they were, or rather, were not, serving to fuel up their families, Betsey decided to share with people the tips and tools she learned throughout her life. Betsey’s goal is to help others develop solid cooking techniques, easy concepts which will be used throughout the course of their lives. For Kids in the Kitchen, Betsey coordinated and lead a hands-on cooking class for 65 children between the ages of six and twelve. The focus was on "energy foods," including Banana Surprise Pancakes, NRG Sundaes, and Confetti Quesadillas. Particular attention was given to ingredient choices and substitutions. You can discover more about Essen at http://www.breathelivegrow.com/ |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY Susan Roth Chef Susan Roth will be leading a demonstration and hands-on, interactive cooking lesson with the children of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Allentown, PA. This will include safety, the use of kitchen tools and the preparation of several recipes followed by a tasting session of the day's delicacies.
Community Involvement
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 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE PALM BEACHES Joseph Colavito Chef Joe Colavito is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. After graduation, he worked in several NYC restaurants, most notably La Caravelle. Chef Joe left there to take over as Garde Manger Chef at Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY. He furthered his career with several restaurants and even opened his own cooking school. In August 2004, Joe and his wife Arlene moved to South Florida where he became the Executive Chef at Zoot's Café in West Palm Beach. Chef Joe then took over the Executive Chef position at John Bull English Pub & Restaurant. When Whole Foods Market came to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Chef Joe left the restaurant business and joined the natural foods market as an in-house Chef, Demo Specialist and cooking class instructor. Joe and Arlene still reside in Palm Beach Gardens today. |
| | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE PASADENA Lisa Elaina Fontanesi - Kidding Around in the Kitchen Lisa Elaina learned how to cook and bake from countless hours spent in her Grandmother's kitchen as a young girl. She is now the mother of two and is currently working as a consultant and instructor at several LAUSD Schools. She has taught Food Art classes as well as Kidding around the Kitchen, her hands-on cooking program for kids. Lisa also regularly presents her popular Family Food demos at local Los Angeles area Farmers Markets and food festivals where she shares ideas on how to get the whole family involved in meal planning and preparation. Chef’s Role in your Kids in the Kitchen program: Lisa will be working with each student to create delicious veggie sushi rolls, allowing them to choose their own ingredients and roll them in either traditional sushi paper or thinly sliced cucumber. She also will be showing the kids how to create beautiful fruit and yogurt parfaits! |
| | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE PASADENA Safoa Abboa-Offei - Safoa’s Fare Safoa Abboa-Offei is the owner of Safoa's Fare, a personal chef and catering service. Safoa began working in the culinary industry at an early age, starting with an internship at the restaurant of the Marriott Hotel in her hometown in New Jersey. After graduating from The University of Pennsylvania, Safoa enrolled at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill in Philadelphia, PA for her degree in Culinary Arts. During her course of study at The Restaurant School, Safoa had the opportunity to study in France, where she learned the art of French Cooking. Afterward, she worked in several restaurants in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Martha's Vineyard. Safoa is passionate about food and cooking. She is also concerned about the current epidemic of diabetes and other food-related health problems in this country. She desires to help people learn to eat and enjoy healthy food. She believes that good food should not only be healthy, but also taste great. Safoa is a member of the American Personal and Private Chef Association and she is licensed in safe food handling. Chef’s Role in your Kids in the Kitchen program: Safoa will be working directly with our participating students at her port "Take a Dip!". She will lead each group in a discussion of quick & healthy after school snacks. Her Veggie dippers and Fruit dippers (a variety of raw veggies or fruits lined up on kebobs) will be accompanied by a variety of low fat delicious dips. Her goal is to give each student an easy snacking opportunity that they could create on their own! |
| | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE PASADENA Siene Silva, Personal Trainer - Fitness Competitor American Gladiator Siene Silva is a certified personal trainer focused on bringing her drive and enthusiasm for fitness and health into the mainstream. With a degree from Oregon State University in Exercise Sports Science and Health Promotion and numerous other certifications, she helps clients get and stay in shape through education and of course hard work. Siene herself takes her own medicine, and is an IFBB professional fitness competitor, and has appeared as a competitor on American Gladiators and won her way to the semi-finals. Siene’s love for fitness and health throughout her life has played a large role in becoming a private trainer and coach. She believes that helping others with reaching their own health and fitness goals is one of the most rewarding experiences and is a driving factor in her own motivation to stay fit. She plans to continue to encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle and the sport of fitness to as many others as she can. Chef’s Role in your Kids in the Kitchen program: Siene will be working with our students to challenge them to find ways to incorporate fun ways to move and exercise during the day. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE PASADENA Brian & Kerry Smith - GymnastiKids Brian Smith is owner and president of GymnastiKids. He has been involved in gymnastics for 25 years coaching, competing and performing. Brian is a graduate of Springfield College in Massachusetts. While there, Brian earned many accolades: captain/MVP of the gymnastics team, 3 time All American, Athlete of the year (1986 & 1987) and he represented the United States in several international competitions. After moving to California, Brian coached at many well known gymnastics programs along with doing stunt and commercial work. Securing a spot on a team called The Daredevils, Brian traveled throughout the world performing acrobatic basketball routines at NBA and NCAA events. Staying closer to the ground and California, Brian founded GymnastiKids in 1990 and has been bringing fun and fitness to children of all ages. Kerry Smith also holds a B.S from Springfield College studying Psychology, Sociology and Rehabilitation. Kerry's been certified as a Personal Trainer with AFAA and certified through U.S.A Gymnastics for almost 20 years combined. Kerry's credits include being the Pre-Natal Fitness Advisor for Verdugo Hills Hospital, working with special needs children at Rosemary Johnson and Associates Occupational Therapy Clinic, fitness training the Junior National Squash Team, functional training at the Morovati Wellness Center, Sports Magic Team for the L.A Clippers, board advisor at the La Canada YMCA being the first Ironman Fitness winner, ranking top 10 in The Fitness America Pageant, Ms. Fitness California and the mother of two very active boys. Kerry uses her positive attitude to inspire her clients to reach their fitness goals and continues to train privately by appointment only. Chef’s Role in your Kids in the Kitchen program: GymnastiKids has established a reputation for providing a quality gymnastics program to numerous schools in the area since 1990. The philosophy of our program is to teach students gymnastics in a fun and safe atmosphere, and pro actively enhance their self-esteem. Our approach is to provide a high degree of professionalism in instruction techniques to maximize the skills of gymnastics conducive to physical child development. They will be bringing their equipment to KITK and leading the kids through an exciting Gymnastics course! |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANGELO Henry Wiens With an audience of children, Chef Henry will have a cooking show where he will prepare foods from all the different food groups that are easy and fast for children to prepare. As Chef Henry is explaining the foods and nutrition of each item, the kids will prepare these same snacks at their table with the assistance of Junior League volunteers. Chef Henry Wiens is the co-host for the "Let's Eat" television show and the Director of Nutritional Services at San Angelo Community Medical Center where he oversees the creation of 30,000 meals every month. He has been in food management and nutrition for 25 years. He has owned his own restaurant and catering business. Originally though, he received a BA in Pastoral Counseling/Theology, which he says, "Comes in handy everyday." After pursuing a degree in Food Management/Nutrition he continued his passion for epicurean delights. Henry has attended The Culinary Institute of America almost yearly since 1991, and recently received his ProChef II certification. He is a Certified Dietary Manger a member of Texas Chef Association and American Culinary Federation. He won the national entegra 2005 Culinary Competition at The Culinary Institute of America in New York. At the top of "Henry's Yee Haw scale" is his wife and three awesome children. His pride and joy is his granddaughter, Kara Jean. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN FRANCISCO Stephen Gibbs Executive Chef, Hands On Gourmet Chef Stephen Gibbs and his team of lively and energetic chefs will cook healthy and delicious dishes with the kids from San Francisco's JLSF-supported SMART program. During the hands-on fun, they'll also be passing along expert advice on healthy eating, great after school snacks, and more. Chef Stephen is a co-founder of Hands On Gourmet, the premier culinary events company in the San Francisco Bay Area. His culinary career has included work at such acclaimed restaurants as Wolfgang Puck's Postrio, Roland Passot's La Folie, and Jeremiah Tower's Stars restaurant. Educated at the California Culinary Academy, Chef Stephen has also served as chef at the San Francisco Opera House. In 2000, he created the dining concept and menus for Virgin Atlantic Airline's Upper Class Lounges across the USA. Chef Stephen's recipes have also been featured in CHOW, Relax, and other magazines, and he has been a guest on several talk shows, most recently the Lisa Birnbach radio show. He loves to share his expertise in culinary team building, and has been quoted in the New York Times and other newspapers. Before picking up a chef's knife, Stephen spent a decade in Los Angeles working as an actor. You may recognize him from Days of Our Lives or his roles in other 1990's soap operas, sit-coms, and television commercials. He also worked with the legendary Groundlings improv group. These days, Chef Stephen puts his dramatic skills to use sharing his passion for great food. He produced and starred in Flavor Highway, a series currently available on Taste TV. He has been featured in a segment on the Fine Living Channel, and recently took the lead role in a cooking show pilot with a San Francisco production company. Chef Stephen also makes regular public appearances doing cooking demonstrations in association with national magazines such as Gourmet and Womens Health. |
 | JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SOUTH BREVARD, INC. Darlene Hardister-Heumann In addition to volunteering as one of the three chefs for the cooking demonstration sessions, Darlene Hardister-Heumann helped to coordinate the other two chefs and what types of recipes would be featured. Darlene was on the Kids in the Kitchen committee and helped coordinate the chefs and cooking demonstrations for the 2006 event. Darlene Hardister-Heumann is author of The Southern Sass Cookbook, It's All in the Sass! which has been featured in Southern Living, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, Florida Today and Tallahassee Democrat. She was just recently featured as a Success Story for the Florida Small Business Development Center. Darlene teaches cooking classes and lectures on healthy cooking and living. She has a Bachelors Degree in Business Marketing and has completed the Chef's Certificate Program at Capital Culinary Academy. She has been a member of the Junior League of South Brevard for five years. |
