Tucson's Favorite Chefs – Flying Aprons Tucson: Cooking Classes for Home Cooks

Meet Your Teachers

Tucson was the first U.S. City of Gastronomy named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), honoring Southern Arizona’s 4,000-year food heritage and extraordinary culinary professionals. These skilled creatives - restaurant chefs to pastry artists to artisan bakers - will help you develop your skills, grow your creativity, and bring their tricks of the trade to your kitchen.

Juan Almanza

Chef/Owner, El Taco Rustico

Jackie Alpers

Author, Food Photographer

Judith A. Baigent-King, CCP

Teaching Chef, Food Writer, Author

Christopher Baldwin

Chef, Gallery of Food

Marianne Banes, CCP

Pastry Chef, Locale Neighborhood Italian Restaurant

Tommy Begay III

Chef/Partner, Sushi on Oracle

Mark Beres

President & CEO, Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery

Dee Buizer

Chef/Owner, Senae Thai Bistro

Mat Cable

Chef/Owner, Fresco Pizzeria & Pastaria, First We Eat Catering & Confections, Z Mansion house caterer, Partner, Dante’s Fire & Co-owner, Zio Peppe

Riley Chandler

Executive Chef/Co-founder, Stancato’s Italiano Sonoran

Chris DeSimone

Radio Host, Foodie

Rocco DiGrazia

Chef/Owner, Rocco’s Little Chicago

Jax Donahue

Brand Ambassador, Whiskey del Bac

Kayla Draper

Pastry Chef/Owner, Fluffy Sugar Bakery

Michael Elefante

Executive Chef & Co-owner, Mama Louisa's

Carlotta Flores

Executive Chef/Owner, El Charro Café, Charro Steak & Del Rey, Charro Vida, Barrio Charro & The Monica

Susan Fulton & Mary Steiger

Chef/Co-owners, Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery & Bistro

Thomas Garnick & Dani Williams

Chef & Designer, Graze + Provisions

Wendy Gauthier

Chef/Owner, Chef Chic Café, Personal Chef & Caterer

CJ Hamm

Executive Chef/Owner, Saguaro Corners & Mulligan's Sports Grill

Miguel Heredia

Chef, El Charro Café

Gary Hickey

Chef/Partner, Flores Concepts & Sí Charro Restaurants

Obadiah ``Obie`` Hindman

Executive Chef, Mountain Oyster Club

John Hohn

Executive Chef, Culinary Arts Director/Instructor, GAP Ministries

Barry Infuso

Certified Executive Chef, Certified Culinary Educator

Kristine Jensen

Chef/Owner, Gallery of Food

Ayla Kapahi

Director of Production and Head Brewer, Borderlands Brewing Co.

Jonathan Landeen

Chef/Owner, Jonathan’s Cork

Roderick LeDesma

Executive Sous Chef, Casino Del Sol

Mixologist Jeff Marron

Hacienda Corona Bed & Breakfast

Daniel Martinez

Chef/Co-owner Café Francais Boulangerie & Patisserie

Maria Mazon

Executive Chef/Owner, BOCA Tacos y Tequila & SONA Tortillas De Maiz y Bodega

Elizabeth Mikesell

Certified Executive Chef, Educator

Jim Murphy

Chef

Carolyn Niethammer

Cookbook Author/Writer

Kyle Nottingham

Director of Culinary Experiences, Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa & Chef/Owner, Nott Cooks

Carolyn O’Connor

Chef/Owner, Ceres Pasta & Noodies

Patricia Ordóñez Beattie

Baker/Owner, Magic Spoons

Alison Ozgur

MAT, MHS, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Christa Parsons

Owner, Dogs-n-Donuts

Noel Patterson

Sommelier & Beekeeper, Dos Manos Apiaries

Stephen Paul

Founder, Hamilton Distillers – Whiskey del Bac

Travis Peters

Executive Chef/Co-owner, The Parish & The Delta Bar & Grill

Devon Sanner

Chef/Co-owner, Zio Peppe

Todd Sicolo

Executive Chef, Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa

Gina Skelton

Pastry Chef/Owner, Sugar Momma Cakery

Brian Smith

Chef/Owner, Maynards

Jackie Tran

Chef/Owner, Tran's Fats, Food Writer, Photographer

Janos Wilder

Chef/Owner, Janos Cooks & Chair, Tucson City of Gastronomy Board of Directors

What to expect:

Professional Instruction

Our chefs and other food and beverage professionals are the creatives whose passion and talent for cooking and experience in the kitchen helped put the Tucson food scene on the map and bring so much flavor to the region.

A Welcoming Environment

We want you to enjoy your experience and be excited to get cooking! In-person and Zoom classes are taught by our brilliant chefs and food and drink pros. When you join us virtually, we’ll provide all the instructions you’ll need to purchase ingredients, prepare your cooking space and get set up with Zoom. For menus that involve hard-to-find or exotic ingredients we offer Ready-To-Go Kits, which you'll purchase at Shopify when you register, pickup before class or have shipped. Bon Appetit!

Tucson’s Favorite Chefs