Meet Our Cooking Instructors

Misty Callies has worked in the culinary world for 30 years. She co-founded the Zanzibar restaurant on State St. along with her brother, and served as head chef until the closing in 2009. She enjoys experimenting with new flavors, gardening, preservinig, traveling, and of course, eating.

Current Classes:

Thai Seafood

Moroccan Tagines

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Staff of Registered Dieticians offer classes for special diets and healthy cooking in their culinary classroom. In these classes you always do the cooking and tasting.

What Students Say:

"I loved learning the different recipes and the hands-on aspect of the class."

                 - J. Bigelow

"This was an excellent class. The recipes and nutritional information were very helpful."

                  - B. Juner

Current Classes:

Steve Meyers worked as an executive chef for 25 years. Upon retiring he built his own bakehouse where he can pursue his love of baking. His training includes artisan breads and French pastries.

Current Classes:

Scones

Bill Loomis has been involved in the food business off and on all of his adult life. He owned a gourmet cheese company and cooked in restaurants in Detroit, Farmington Hills, and Mackinac Island. Currently, he owns a part-time catering business and has been teaching cooking classes for Rec & Ed for several years.

What Bill's Students Say:

"There were lots of different dishes to try, the food was excellent, and I can cook these at home."

        - P. Scott

"Great variety of dishes and tastes. Great class, great experience!"

       - M. Hortsch

"Bill Loomis was an awesome teacher. He did an outstanding job getting us to interact and feel comfortable. I like the hands-on opportunity to make the crepes."

         - M. Olson

Current Classes:

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang - is a second generation Chinese American from California who now divides her time between Michigan and the Big Island of Hawaii. She is a popular speaker on Asian Pacific American and multicultural issues.

 Website: 

What Frances' Students say:

Current Classes:

Francesca Giarraffa began her cooking career as a young girl helping her Mother and Aunt prepare meals in her native Naples, Italy. Later as a young adult she worked in her Aunt's restaurant in Italy. Francesca is married to a retired chef and lives in Ann Arbor where she runs a catering business and teaches cooking classes. Students enjoy her warm, open personality and her wealth of knowledge of traditional Italian cooking.

What Francesca's Students Say:

"Francesca is a treasure. Her instructions are clear, the recipes are simple and easy to follow."

              - L. Thomas

"Recipes were simple to prepare but tasted like eating at a 5 star restaurant."

                 - S. Jordon

"Just one class and you too will become a Francesca groupie!"

                  -V. Cameron

"Francesca is an amazing teacher and her handouts are easy to replicate at home."

                 - M. Baneju

"Best Italian food/recipes in Michigan. Francesca's recipes ALWAYS have the freshest ingredients and she gives us a lot of food knowledge."

-S. Jordan

Current Classes:

Spring Into Pasta

Antipasti: Italian hors d'oeuvres

Butternut Ravioli

Swordfish Risotto

Saltimbocca

Tuscan Quail

Jyothi Mathews Abraham's love of cooking and baking began at the age of 7 when she created her first birthday cake. Today she is a certified teacher of the Wilton Cake Decorating Method and an instructor of Indian cuisine who is about to open her own catering business this fall. Jyothi is originally from the region of Keral but her knowledge of Indian cuisine covers most of the country thanks to the tutelage of an aunt who loved to travel and cook.

What Jyothi's Students Are Saying:

"I enjoyed all the cultural background associated with the dishes."

                   - G. Woodroofle

"The instructor was delightful, well informed and easy to understand."

                   -J. Almeida

"This class made Indian food seem less intimidating to make."

                   - C. Okon

"I finally learned how to make my favorite Indian dish!"

                  - F. Dorr

Current Classes:

Prawn Masala & Kappa

Aloo Sabji & Poori

Sahajahani Murg Masala

Parripu (Lentil) Curry

Sharon Sheldon is a cooking enthusiast and health educator who brings years of cooking experience to each cooking class. Sharon's passion for healthy cooking focuses on fresh ingredients and tantalizing flavors that spice up a meal and give you energy for life! She runs a cooking school in Northern Michigan.

http://www.sagechef.com/SageChef/about.html

What Sharon's Students Say:

"This class was Rec & Ed at its finest. Knowledgeable instructor and great recipes that you can really do at home - wonderful!!"

               - A. Putallaz

Current Classes:

Byong Hyon (Andy) Kwon

What Andy's Student Say:

"I appreciated learning different techniques and the detailed explanations. I enjoyed his stories about his early days as a sushi chef."

   - L. Astrike

"Andy was phenomenal! Very knowledgeable and friendly."

   - J. Patton

Current Classes:

Basic Sushi Rolls

Natalie Park, owner Coffee House Creamery

Website:  coffeehousecreamery.com

Current Classes:

Coffee Bean to Cup - 5/2

Mother's Day Tea - 5/13