Tucson Mural at Epic Rides by Joe Pagac

Tucson’s Favorite Chefs

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.

Chef/Owner, El Taco Rustico
Juan Almanza
Chef/Owner, El Taco Rustico
Jackie Alpers, Author, Photographer
Jackie Alpers
Author, Food Photographer
Chef Judith Baigent-King
Judith A. Baigent-King, CCP
Teaching Chef, Food Writer, Author
Chef Christopher Baldwin, Gallery of Food
Christopher Baldwin
Chef, Gallery of Food
Pastry Chef Marianne Banes
Marianne Banes, CCP
Pastry Chef, Locale Neighborhood Italian Restaurant
Chef Tommy Begay III
Tommy Begay III
Chef/Partner, Sushi on Oracle
Mark Beres, Flying Leap Vineyards
Mark Beres
President & CEO, Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery
Chef Dee Buizer, Senae Thai Bistro
Dee Buizer
Chef/Owner, Senae Thai Bistro
Chef Mat Cable
Mat Cable
Chef/Owner, Fresco Pizzeria & Pastaria, First We Eat Catering & Confections, Z Mansion house caterer, Partner, Dante’s Fire & Co-owner, Zio Peppe
Chef Riley Chandler
Riley Chandler
Executive Chef/Co-founder, Stancato’s Italiano Sonoran
Chef Chris DeSimone
Chris DeSimone
Radio Host, Foodie
Chef Rocco DiGrazia
Rocco DiGrazia
Chef/Owner, Rocco’s Little Chicago
Jax Donahue, Brand Ambassador, Whiskey del Bac
Jax Donahue
Brand Ambassador, Whiskey del Bac
Pastry Chef Kayla Draper, Tucson AZ
Kayla Draper
Pastry Chef/Owner, Fluffy Sugar Bakery
Chef Michael Elefante, Mama Louisa's
Michael Elefante
Executive Chef & Co-owner, Mama Louisa's
Chef Carlotta Flores, El Charro
Carlotta Flores
Executive Chef/Owner, El Charro Café, Charro Steak & Del Rey, Charro Vida, Barrio Charro & The Monica
Gourmet Girls
Susan Fulton & Mary Steiger
Chef/Co-owners, Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery & Bistro
William Garnick and Dani Williams
Thomas Garnick & Dani Williams
Chef & Designer, Graze + Provisions
Chef Wnndy Gauthier
Wendy Gauthier
Chef/Owner, Chef Chic Café, Personal Chef & Caterer
Iron Chef C J Hamm
CJ Hamm
Executive Chef/Owner, Saguaro Corners & Mulligan's Sports Grill
Chef Miguel Heredia
Miguel Heredia
Chef, El Charro Café
Chef Gary Hickey
Gary Hickey
Chef/Partner, Flores Concepts & Sí Charro Restaurants
Chef Obadiah Hindman
Obadiah ``Obie`` Hindman
Executive Chef, Mountain Oyster Club
Chef John Hohn
John Hohn
Executive Chef, Culinary Arts Director/Instructor, GAP Ministries
Chef Barry Infuso
Barry Infuso
Certified Executive Chef, Certified Culinary Educator
Chef Kristine Jensen, Gallery of Food
Kristine Jensen
Chef/Owner, Gallery of Food
Brewer Ayla Kapahi, Borderlands Brewing Co, Tucson AZ
Ayla Kapahi
Director of Production and Head Brewer, Borderlands Brewing Co.
Chef Jonathan Landeen
Jonathan Landeen
Chef/Owner, Jonathan’s Cork
Roderick LeDesma – Executive Sous Chef, Casino Del Sol
Roderick LeDesma
Executive Sous Chef, Casino Del Sol
Mixologist Jeff Marron
Mixologist Jeff Marron
Hacienda Corona Bed & Breakfast
Chef Daniel Martinez, Cafe Francais
Daniel Martinez
Chef/Co-owner Café Francais Boulangerie & Patisserie
Chef Maria Mazon
Maria Mazon
Executive Chef/Owner, BOCA Tacos y Tequila & SONA Tortillas De Maiz y Bodega
Chef Elizabeth Mikesell
Elizabeth Mikesell
Certified Executive Chef, Educator
Chef Jim Murphy, Kingfisher
Jim Murphy
Chef
Cookbook Author Carolyn Niethammer
Carolyn Niethammer
Cookbook Author/Writer
Chef Kyle Nottingham
Kyle Nottingham
Director of Culinary Experiences, Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa & Chef/Owner, Nott Cooks
Chef Carolyn O'Connor
Carolyn O’Connor
Chef/Owner, Ceres Pasta & Noodies
Patricia Ordóñez Beattie
Patricia Ordóñez Beattie
Baker/Owner, Magic Spoons
Alison Ozgur, RDN
Alison Ozgur
MAT, MHS, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Christa Parsons, Owner, Dogs-n-Donuts
Christa Parsons
Owner, Dogs-n-Donuts
Noel Patterson – Sommelier & Beekeeper, Dos Manos Apiaries
Noel Patterson
Sommelier & Beekeeper, Dos Manos Apiaries
Stephen Paul, Founder Hamilton Distillers
Stephen Paul
Founder, Hamilton Distillers – Whiskey del Bac
Chef Travis Peters
Travis Peters
Executive Chef/Co-owner, The Parish & The Delta Bar & Grill
Chef Devon Sanner, Co-Owner Zio Pepe, Tucson AZ
Devon Sanner
Chef/Co-owner, Zio Peppe
Todd Sicolo
Executive Chef, Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa
Chef Gina Skelton
Gina Skelton
Pastry Chef/Owner, Sugar Momma Cakery
Chef Brian Smith
Brian Smith
Chef/Owner, Maynards
Jackie Tran of Tucson
Jackie Tran
Chef/Owner, Tran's Fats, Food Writer, Photographer
Chef Janos Wilder
Janos Wilder
Chef/Owner, Janos Cooks & Chair, Tucson City of Gastronomy Board of Directors
Flying Aprons Tucson Chefs

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!

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