Meet Our Cooking Instructors

What Arlene's Student's Say:

"I've been to two classes with Arlene, both were very well instructed and tasty!"

                         -S. Lawry

"This was a wonderful experience amd I learned a lot about cooking and what makes each meal healthy."

                          -J. Bidlack

"Great variety of dishes prepared. I loved the hands-on experience."

                          D. Moore

Classes:

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 the last four 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

"I enjoyed Bill's easy going nature. It was easy to ask questions."

        - F. Miller

"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:

Soups: Simple to Sublime

Roast Chicken Sunday Dinner

French Crepes

Slow Cooked Winter Stew

Ernest Prokos is a master of seven national cuisines and more than 45 years in the kitchen. “Cook with your heart, make food with your hands” is his motto. He is the Executive Chef of the Quarter Bistro & Tavern which specializes in Mediterranean and Creole cuisines.

Website:  http://www.thequarterbistro.com/

What Chef Prokos' Students Say:

"I really liked the chef's knowledge of cuisine history and spices. I want more classes by Chef Prokos!"

        - S. Koos

"The chef was very knowledgeable and everything was explained clearly so that I feel I can make these dishes myself."

        - D. Montemayor

"What a great opportunity to learn from an executive chef with his years of experience."

        - L. Chesney

Classes:

Christine Nguyen was born and raised in California where her parents relocated from Vietnam. She is married to a French native and enjoys cooking in both French and Vietnamese cuisines. Christine recently returned to school to receive certification as a pastry chef.

Website:  http://holybasil.wordpress.com/

What Christine's Students Say:

"Christine has a bubbly personality. I'd watch her cooking show on TV anyday. She's great!"

               -L. Scott

"Christine is a delight to watch. She always shares new spices and ingredients so it is a real learning experience."

               - B. Kami

Classes:

Dahlia Weinman completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, and went on to earn an MBA at the Harvard Business School.  After a career as a magazine publisher in New York, she took time off to raise her two young children.

With her children reaching school age, Dahlia searched for a new career to fulfill her artistic passion.  When her youngest son turned one, she baked and decorated her first custom cake.  And a career was born.  As a cake artist, Dahlia loves the smiling faces that are thrilled to see their own cake dreams come to life with one of her creations. See photographs of Dahlia's beautiful cakes at Dahliascakes.com.

What Dahlia's Students Say:

"Creative designs. I liked the variety of materials and techniques shown."

        -P. Smith

"Dahlia was laid back and allowed everyone to express creativety comfortably."

        -C. Shanks

"The cupcakes are pretty. My friends will be jealous."

        - N. Smith

"The instructor was well prepared and very organized."

         - L. Janus

Classes:

Valentine Cupcakes

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. She has taught for Rec & Ed during the last 7 years. Students enjoy her warm, open personality and her wealth of knowledge of traditional Italian cooking.

What Francesca's Students Say:

"This is my first class in a long time. It makes me realize that I am interested in taking many more! Worth every penny!"

                -L. Johnson

"Francesca makes everything look so easy and taste so good."

                 - N. Magnani

"Great class - Great food - Great instructor."

                  -T. Peretti

"Fancesca was very knowledgeable. She welcomed questions and class participation."

                 - L. Kleiner

Classes:

Quick & Easy Italian Style

Soups for Lunch & Dinner

Italian Sunday Supper

Italian Cooking City Style

The Flavor Of Spring

Jennie Hahn, RD, CDE graduated with a degree in Medical Dietetics from Wayne State University with post-graduate work in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition.  She is employed in the Diabetes Education Center and NutriCare Outpatient Nutrition Department at St. Joseph Mercy Health Center where she teaches heart healthy, hands -on cooking classes and works with children and teens in the Shapedown Weight Management Program.  Her past accomplishments include development of a community diabetes nutrition education program titled “Learn, Taste & Share”.  She has published two journal articles (in Diabetes Care and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association).  Jennie has also written two community cookbooks.  (The first won a national award for Nutrition Education.)

What Jennie's Students Are Saying:

Classes:

Fantastic Fish I

Fantastic Fish II

Heart Smart

Discover the Joy of Soy

Family Fun with Food and Fitness

Try Thai

Whole Grain Exploration

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

Classes:

Baingan Bharta with Chapati

Chicken Saag & Gajar Ka Halwa

Indian Vegetarian Meal

Vegetable Pakoras & Meat Cutlet

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:

Current Classes:

Rites of Spring

Mercy Yeo is a native of Singapore.

What Mercy's Students Say:

"The instructor was very engaging."

            - M. Mitchenor

Classes:

Bi Bim Bap

Chicken Satay & Taro

Shrimp Chow Mein & Hot Sour Soup

Roya Najafi

What Roya's Students Say:

"What a pleasant exposure to Iranian culture."

               -K. Baxter

"The class and food were both excellent. Persian food is a delight and Roya made it accessable."

                -B. Rowshan

Current Classes: