Shop with the Chef
Market tours with chef and cooking demonstration
Our Shop with the Chef series features professional chefs from local restaurants, caterers, and cookbook authors who provide cooking demonstrations throughout the year at the market, from May through November.
When: Second Saturday of each month, May through November. Tour begins promptly at 8:30 am. Cooking demonstration begins between 8:45 am and 9:00 am.
Where: Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
Coming Chef Events:
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008
CHEF ANDREW COHEN
FOOD WRITER AND CHEF IN RESIDENCE FOR MONTEREY BAY CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKETS
Chef Andrew Cohen is well known around here, having been an avid supporter of the farmers markets long before it was ‘fashionable’ to do so. Andrew exemplifies the caliber of chef we have here in our neighborhood, with a culinary career that spans over thirty years.
A graduate from the esteemed California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Andrew interned at Chez Panisse with celebrity chef and restaurant owner Alice Waters. Andrew worked as a chef at the legendary India Joze, the Verandah, and Theo’s—all exceptional restaurants. These and other notable restaurants provided the opportunity to experiment and to broaden his repertoire. Andrew was also a chef-owner at Surf Sushi, where his outstanding sushi skills were a focal point; some of his unique creations are still on sushi menus today. On occasion, Andrew is a guest chef for Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, where he matches their fabulous wines to the region’s culinary bounty. Andrew currently writes a monthly food column “Fresh Picks at the Market” for Edible Paradise, the e-newsletter of the MBCFM, and writes a monthly food column for the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
SATURDAY MAY 10, 2008
CHEF CHRIS HOWE
HEAD CHEF AT CAFÉ LA VIE, 429 FRONT STREET, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060
Chris Howe is head chef at Café La Vie, located in downtown Santa Cruz. Originally from Devon, England, he has been in the restaurant business for nearly 17 years. “I got my first job as a “dish pig” just after my 11th birthday and became a trainee chef at 15. I was subsequently battered, shouted at, burnt, and broken down and still believe that I would not trade it for the world!” Life as an apprentice chef was very tough and unforgiving as it should be. As the old saying goes, if you can’t stand the heat, then stay outta the kitchen! Food is my true love, my passion and my obsession. I love my craft and my job, which is lucky since I spend 11 hours a day 6-7 days a week in the kitchen!
Café La Vie features organic food with a focus on raw and vegetarian cusine. For reservations, call 831.429.6746 or see their website at www.lavie.us.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2008:
CHEF LIONEL LE MORVAN,
OWNER/EXECUTIVE CHEF AT MA MAISON, 9051 SOQUEL DRIVE, APTOS, CA 95003
Growing up with a family of chefs in his parents’ home in Paris and the family home in the Normandy countryside, fishing, gardening, and mushroom foraging were simply a part of life for Lionel. As a child, Lionel exhibited an inclination towards culinary arts. A favorite story Lionel likes to share is his mother and older sister went to the grocery store and upon returning, found eight-year-old Lionel standing on a stool, flambéing bananas! By age 16, Lionel began studying with Master Chef Jacques Le Divellec in La Rochelle. Several years later, Lionel began traveling, studying and practicing culinary arts in Japan, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He chose to spend 10 years perfecting his culinary skills in the Caribbean.
In 1998, Janet and Lionel returned to Janet’s hometown of Aptos, where Lionel worked as Chef at the locally renowned Shadowbrook restaurant for two years. After a stint of four years at Bear Valley Lodge running the Food and Beverage Department, Lionel and Janet felt ready to open a restaurant of their own and opened Ma Maison in February 2005.
Chef Lionel takes great pride in using only the choicest of free-range meats, wild seafood, hand-picked organic produce from the farmers market and sommelier-selected California and French wines on the menu. At Ma Maison, you feel like a treasured guest in this classically elegant yet homey setting and instantly seduced by the warm and romantic atmosphere upon entering this beautifully renovated 1928 home.
Ma Maison is located at 9051 Soquel Drive in Aptos, California. Dinner served Tuesday through Sunday, 5:30 pm until closing. Lunch served Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 am until 2:00 pm. For reservations, call 831.688.5566.
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2008
CHEF PATTY SEARLE
CONSULTANT, PRIVATE CHEF AND CATERER, THRIVIN’ EDIBLES
Chef Patti Searle is a recent graduate of the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Fort Bragg, CA, a premier raw organic vegan chef school. Patti fell in love with raw/live food while on a retreat in San Diego over two years ago, and having experienced the many benefits of eating raw cuisine, turned her love for making food for people into a catering business in early 2007. Patti delivers healthy lunches and dinners for busy people all over the South SF Bay area each week and caters events for both corporations and individuals.
In addition, Patti offers private consultations about how to organize your raw kitchen, food prep classes (for 1 or more), menu planning, and grocery shopping. For more information, contact Patti at chefpatti@thrivinedibles.com or see her website www.thrivinedibles.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008
CHEF MICHAEL GREER
OWNER/CHEF AT LA BELLA VITA BISTRO, 257 CENTER AVENUE, APTOS, CA 95001
Michael Greer, owner/chef of La Bella Vita Bistro opened the doors of his cozy neighborhood café in July 2007. Michael considers himself a self-taught chef and has been cooking for the past 22 years. He specializes in Italian cooking but enjoys introducing a bit of Asian flair and creating unique sauces. He welcomes you to come enjoy fine Italian dining at La Bella Vita Bistro and has accommodations for 50+ people.
For reservations, call 831.685.8111 or see their website at www.labellavitabistro.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008
CHEF TOM MCNARY
OWNER/CHEF AT CARRIED AWAY FOODS, 7564 SOQUEL, APTOS, CA 95003
Tom McNary and Mima Lecocq have owned and operated Carried Away Foods in the Aptos Center location since November 1989. After graduating from cooking school, Tom worked at Chez Panisse in Berkeley for many years, which helped to shape his food philosophy of using the freshest, seasonal ingredients prepared with passion and care. Tom takes pride in preparing high quality foods using primarily organic, locally-sourced ingredients from the farmers markets.
Tom heads up the kitchen and is the mastermind behind the seasonal menus. Carried Away Foods is a favorite spot for locals who appreciate healthy meals to “carry away.” A monthly menu is posted on their website offering a wide selection of delicious items. Go to www.carriedawayfoods.com for current menu of the month or catering menu. Call 831.685.8111 for more information.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008
HEIDI SCHLECHT AND AMY LINDSTROM
OWNERS/CHEFS OF FEEL GOOD FOODS AND RIVER CAFÉ AND CHEESE SHOP, 415 RIVER STREET, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060
Heidi Schlecht and Amy Linstrom were born and raised in the Santa Cruz area. They have been enjoying food and friendship together since childhood. High school found them frequenting gourmet food shops during lunch break and vacations were spent exploring the culinary traditions of the world.
Growing up in the food business, Heidi has always been cooking and now lives with her family on their mountain vineyard where she tends her many fruit trees and large garden.
She started Feel Good Foods catering business in 1994 after a seven-year collaboration in an organic wholesale food business with Amy. Amy studied and taught at the UCSC Farm & Garden Program and then worked as a kitchen gardener where she kept finding herself in the kitchen. She went on to complete an apprenticeship at Chez Panisse and then joined Feel Good Foods in 1998.
In 2004, Amy and Heidi opened River Café and Cheese Shop, offering artisanal cheeses and is the perfect place to pick up a quick bite of breakfast or lunch, or picnic supplies for a wine tour or the beach.
The River Café and Cheese shop is open Monday through Saturday.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2008
STUDENTS FROM CABRILLO COLLEGE CULINARY PROGRAM
Come enjoy a cooking demonstration by students from the Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program. This excellent program provides students with basic culinary food preparation and service training, advanced a la carte and buffet food production and service experience, as well as food service management training for the industry. Cabrillo College offers both a Certificate of Proficiency and an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management.