UCSC Extension Presents New Culinary Courses in the Guest Chef Series.

Business Editors/Education, Food & Wine Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2001

Learn tips and secrets from the combined experiences of renowned chefs

Antoinette Benjamin, Andrew Benjamin, and Carmen Jones

The Humanities department of UCSC Extension, the premier provider of high quality continuing education in the Silicon Valley and the Central Coast, offers all new courses in the Guest Chef Series featuring mother and son culinary experts, Toni (Antoinette) and Andrew Benjamin, and nationally recognized chef Carmen Jones. The series is comprised of four new courses including Sharing the Secrets of Restaurant Chefs; Special Comfort Foods; Culinary Terms, Methods and Procedure; and Caramels, Toffee and Truffles. Classes start at 6:30 p.m. and are held at Mon Cheri Caterers and Cooking School in Sunnyvale. The first course of the series begins on September 24, 2001.

"Participants learn more than recipes," says Judy Rose, Director of Humanities Department at UCSC Extension. "They learn tips, techniques, terms and methods that they can take with them and use to expand and develop their own recipes and cooking styles."

Toni Benjamin, chef/proprietor of Food for All Seasons in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has received the title of Certified Culinary Professional, and was nominated for the International Catering Excellence Award through the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). She will bring her experience as a member of the Olympic team of Chefs in Australia and will also share her expertise in pairing rare wines with creative menus amongst other trademarks of hers.

Andrew Benjamin is part of the opening team of chefs at the San Francisco Restaurant Gary Danko, which has received the Mobil 5 Star Award for the second year in a row, and was named best new restaurant in the U.S. at the James Beard Awards for 2000. He will put together a complete menu and share his tricks of the trade that make for fine dining. He will also demonstrate roasting, braising, broiling and other cooking techniques.

Carmen Jones, a nationally recognized chef of 30 years, will share her easy-to-follow methods and techniques, taught throughout America's professional culinary schools. She has trained throughout the world, earning herself a place amongst the finest instructor/chefs in international and domestic cuisine. Participants of her classes will become familiar with terms and procedures while creating an entire menu hands-on.

Classes are at Mon Cheri Caterers and Cooking School,

461 S. Murphy, Sunnyvale

Sharing the Secrets of Restaurant Chefs: 6:30-9:30 p.m.,

Monday, September 24 (Benjamin)

Special Comfort Foods: 6:30-9:30 p.m.,

Tuesday, September 25 (Benjamin)

Culinary Terms, Methods and Procedures: 6:30-10 p.m.,

Monday, October 29 (Jones)

Caramels, Toffee and Truffles: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.,

Wednesday, October 31 (Jones) not at Mon Cheri, location TBA 

For more information or to enroll, please visit www.ucsc-extension.edu.