Generation Chefs (original) (raw)
The “Generation Chefs” is a youth education and mentoring program supporting the next generation of chefs and culinary enthusiasts. Through job training and community service activities, the “Gen Chefs” and their mentors explore and celebrate culinary diversity and healthy lifestyles. Together we are creating a more delicious future through food.
The Gen Chefs Meet Emeril
September, 2004. Shout out to Lynne Devereux from Context Marketing and Eileen Bailey and Helen Roberts from Fetzer Vineyards for connecting us to yet another spectacular milestone! Ali Nosti, Shannon Hanns, Guillermo Mejia, Emily McNeeley, Tabitha Yeh, Natashia Kelley and Chef Mentor Rachelle Boucher put on a fabulous show. Shannon tells the story which was captured on camera by John MacLeod and Will Gotshall-Maxon: So yeah, we met the big guy – Chef Emeril Lagasse, the Big Kahuna of six restaurants nation-wide and the Food Network. He was very laid back, not a prima-donna at all. Actually, we interviewed him. Let me back up... we went to Fetzer Vineyards with the Gen Chefs, where we put on an interactive seminar, "Attack of the Killer Tomato Salads". In the seminar we educated our audience of eighty guests on the benefits of heirloom tomatoes, how to shop for ripe tomatoes, slice them, plate and garnish them. We picked volunteers to make their own plated tomato salads for prizes. It was really fun! All three of us (the co-founders/mentors of the Gen Chefs) nailed every one of our teaching points! Fetzer was beautiful (see photo). We got there at 6:00 am, and finished by 11:00 am. We cleaned up and strolled around the gorgeous property, had lunch then went to Emeril's stage. We watched Emeril live (really live, not on TV) and I thought he's EVEN MORE entertaining in person! After his show, we went backstage and all 6 of us (3 founders + partners-in-crime Tabitha, Emily, and Natasha) got to meet and interview him! It seemed like he was really into what we were all about, since his objective for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation is similar - to help kids. (Visit www.emeril.org) 
In my portion of the interview, I asked him what his "tipping point" was, or when was the very moment he knew his vision was all going to come together. He replied saying that he didn't know the answer to that question, just that he gets up every morning wanting to make people happy... But something I would have never expected happened - he cried. Not bawling or anything, just tears started to stream down his face after Guillermo told him about our work with underprivileged kids. After the interview he signed anything we wanted, talked to us individually and took pictures with us. Emeril is a true star to us because of his loving, generous nature. There’s no doubt that The Gen Chefs and Emeril will be seeing each other again soon! Thank you, Emeril, for a wonderful day! See the Gen Chefs celebrating (photo below) and “comforting” Natashia who had just been offered an internship by Emeril (She was a bit shocked!).
A Gen Chef Biography: Alison Nosti
Ali Nosti is a founding member of the Generation Chefs and our Healthy Lifestyle Mentor. She has been working at Savor the Moment since the summer of 2000. Ali has become a remarkable teacher and mentor, assisting with interactive cooking classes and events for businesses and private clients such as a private dinner for rock group “Metallica” in their recording studio! She regularly appears in front of large groups, teaching and cooking on chef stages and at live cooking shows. Ali is a demonstrator for Wolf Range, traveling around the Bay Area giving hands-on seminars, teaching guests to use the latest kitchen technology and tools. Ali has appeared on Channel 50, KFTY and was pictured in the San Francisco Chronicle advocating healthy, delicious food for all ages. Ali is graduating from San Francisco’s City College with a degree in Culinary Arts and Hospitality. She is off to Europe for the summer of 2005. Have fun, Ali!
Macy's & Whole Foods Cooking Classes with the Gen Chefs
Summer, 2004- Gen Chefs were inspired all summer long as they volunteered at Macy’s Union Square in downtown San Francisco with the culinary program. They plated, served and cleaned up for some of the nation’s top chefs such as celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (pictured above). Everyone learned so much and had a blast working with Thia Boggs, the vibrant Cooking School Director. And…drum roll please, Thia, Renee Roberts and Brooke Cheeseman conspired with Whole Foods to create a healthy cooking class series with the Gen Chefs! We NEED you all to come to our next class on Saturday, May 28th 2005 at noon in the Macy’s Union Square “Cellar”. Free! Check out Ali rocking the microphone while Shannnon joins Chef John Mitchell of Whole Foods serving delicious tastes to a packed house! (Photos above) Macy’s and Whole Foods, can it get any better? Thank you to everyone at Macy’s. The Gen Chefs will make you all proud!
Dwell & Saveur Magazines to Support the Marin Youth Center
November 1, 2004 - What a day! Gen Chef founders Robert Roth, Rachelle Boucher, Ali Nosti and our newest member Trey Bulleri had an extraordinary meeting with top executives such as Ted Gramkow and Michela O'Connor Abrams from Saveur and Dwell Magazines. Ali (19) and Trey (15) did a fantastic job representing the Gen Chefs. They were so professional, everyone was very impressed. Dwell and Saveur committed their support to the building of the Generation Chef Culinary Education Center at 1115 Third St in San Rafael to be completed by December, 2005 (see below). It is incredible to have the support of these phenomenal magazines! We celebrated by having a “power lunch” at the delicious “Citizen Cake Café”. Chef Elizabeth Faulkner’s desserts are spectacular. Citizen Cake is an official Gen Chef destination. www.saveur.com www.dwellmag.com www.citizencake.com
Coming in December 2005!
The Generation Chefs Culinary Education Center at the Marin Youth Center 1115 Third St in San Rafael, CA. The culinary education center will include a youth run café and an all ages community cooking school with a studio kitchen for the Generation Chefs cooking show (see photo above). Youth Center partners include Verge Concerts and the Intel Computer Clubhouse. We look forward to cooking delicious food to feed everyone’s creativity at this exciting new center. We are busy fundraising for this remarkable place. For donation information please call 415.884.2786 or email rachelle@savorthemoment.net. Let’s do this!
Generation Chef Milestones
Founding members Ali, Shannon and Guillermo are off and running with their careers. They are starring in our pilot cooking show, “The Generation Chefs” and are the lead teachers for our live cooking show at Macy’s. Ali is completing her internship at the famous “Lark Creek Inn” under Executive Chef Matthew Christenson. You all are so amazing. Congratulations!
Natashia Kelley is practicing her French for her dream of studying in Paris. She was offered an internship with Emeril Lagasse (by Emeril himself) in New Orleans! Stay tuned
Tabitha Yeh has been accepted to the legendary Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. AMAZING!!! Go Tab...
Michelle Finn is busy as a Personal Chef Assistant to her mom, Gen Chef Mentor Eizabeth Bourget at Gourmet To Go, a top tier Private Chef Service. Check it out at www.gourmettogo.com
Gen Chef Mentors are charging ahead with exciting new ventures. Cheryl Jagoda launched C.J. Stix, a gourmet treat. Visit her web site at www.marinchef.com
Mentor Chef Tiffany Friedman has started her new personal chef service. Check her out at www.cheftiff.com
Emily McNeeley has begun her personal chef and event company called “Emilia’s Catering & Personal Chef Service” (707-280-8040).
We welcome our new interns Lacy Williams, Ariz Jacques, Marcos Alcala, Kira MacLean, Erik Hernandez, Brandon Smith & Francisco Preciado. Gen Chef members will be nominated early in 2005.
Trey Bulleri and Chef Rachelle Boucher were nominated for the community service “Heart of Marin” Awards. Trey was awarded a $1,000 scholarship!
Welcome the energized and energizing Jackie Nosti as our new Office & Communications Coordinator.
We all joined Robert Roth, Gen Chef Founder & General Manager, as he played a (all ages) fantastic jazz saxophone gig with jazz vocal star Natasha Miller at Yoshi’s in Oakland for Rachelle’s birthday party. Check out Natasha at www.natashamillerweb.com
Testimonials
"The World is blessed to have people like you." - Chef Emeril Lagasse, to the Generation Chefs
"One of our oldest and most effective partners is Savor the Moment. Through the meaningful learning opportunities that STM and Generation Chefs provide, students’ lives are transformed. STM is an exemplary model showing how to successfully bring mentors, skills training and work-based learning experiences to ALL students, including those from alternative education and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. STM and the Generation Chefs have, time after time, ignited the innate sense of curiosity and excitement for learning that sometimes gets lost in a teenager’s world. We have watched children bloom with their own sense of accomplishment and self-worth and it could not be done without the caring, disciplined, and well thought out internship strategies." - Judy Morgan, Marin School to Career Partnership Director
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Chef Victor Scargle from Julia’s Kitchen (photo on page 2) and the entire staff of Copia, The American Center for Wine, Food & The Arts for letting us shoot a large portion of our show on your cooking stage. www.copia.org. We are very grateful!
Shree Ram, the outgoing Youth Center Director and Gen Chef champion and hero. We will miss you!
John MacLeod, Chris Bautista and the amazing crew of the Intel Computer Clubhouse for their phenomenal support and creative vision.
Standards Of Excellence - especially Mary Jo Camp and Donalyn Mason for providing their wonderful support and beautiful showroom to the Gen Chefs.
Bay Area Community Resources and the Marin Community Foundation for your expert guidance.
Everyone at Next Course
Ken Bacon for his beautiful fruit & vegetable carvings!
Homeward Bound of Marin.