Resource List: Where to Go

Resources: Where to Go…

In response to requests I’ve received from some readers, I have put together a short list of culinary resources I’ve found and go back to often. It would take weeks to research all the amazing culinary resources available to us in the U.S. and there is no inference of one being better than the other on my list. There are so many excellent resources that aren’t listed here and there is no intention of slighting them- if I had my way, I would spend my all time going around the country trying them all! This list doesn’t include all the amazing gourmet food stores out there, too many to count!

Enjoy discovering your favorites…

Cooking Classes:
Draegers- San Mateo, CA and multiple locations in the Bay Area. This is an extraordinary gourmet food store, kitchen supply store and cooking school. Draegers attracts big name chefs and the demo classes are great.

Viking Home Chef- Walnut Creek, CA

Ramekins- Sonoma, CA

Cakebread Winery- Napa, CA

California Culinary Academy- San Francisco, CA

New School for Cooking- Culver City, CA. I can’t even begin to tell you how great this place is. Not only are the workshop classes excellent, the recipes are absolutely delicious and consistently deliver.

Sur La Table- National. I took an amazing pasta making class here that changed my life. Basically, play dough for grown ups with the added bonus of being edible and delicious.

Williams Sonoma- National

Cooks of Crocus Hill- St. Paul, MN

The Ritz- National

Border Grill/Ciudad restaurants- Santa Monica & LA, CA

Delius- Long Beach, CA. Gourmet restaurant with an extraordinary chef now offering cooking classes

Prep- Seal Beach, CA. Gourmet kitchen-ware store and excellent cooking classes!


Food Writing:
If you are interested in learning about professional food writing, writing a cook book, self-publishing etc. I encourage you to sign up for a class with Dianne Jacob in the Bay Area.
http://www.diannej.com/

Whether you want to just put together a little book of your family’s recipes and self-publish or really want to become a professional food writer/author, her writing course is excellent. Dianne addresses methods for sourcing a publisher, how to write a proposal and pitch letter, resources for self-publishing, and the how-to’s of recipe writing, writing articles etc. Dianne’s focus is also on developing your writing skills and we did several writing exercises in class which we then shared with the group.

Dianne demystifies the steps and provides you with the road map you need to start your project. Dianne is a wealth of knowledge and one of those generous people who is willing to share it all with you.

I originally found Dianne Jacob through the Writing Salon in Berkeley, CA. and she also holds classes at Book Passages in Corte Madera. You can check out her web site http://www.diannej.com/ClassesandAppers.shtml for more class info. Dianne is a professional journalist & editor and publishes a quarterly newsletter.

Dianne Jacob books:
http://www.diannej.com/DiannesBook.shtml

Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas by Craig Priebe and Dianne Jacob. Just released in April 2008 with praise from Wolfgang Puck! This is a beautiful book and if you could eat the pages, you would-the pictures & recipes look so good.

Will Write for Food If you would like to learn more about food writing, this is an outstanding book to add to your library.


Kitchen Stores/Professional Cooking Supply Stores:
Paganos- Alameda, CA. This is one of those large, old fashioned hardware stores with the unlikely twist of having a great kitchen-ware department.

Surfas- Culver City, CA. All I have to say is hold me back! I LOVE this place. Across the street from New School for Cooking. If you’re in L.A. and love to cook this should not be missed. Easy to find on Washington at National.

The Village Gourmet- Evergreen, Colorado

The Peppercorn- Boulder, Colorado. Gorgeous, extensive selection of kitchen ware, gourmet candies, beautiful linens, etc.

Chefs Warehouse- South San Francisco, CA

East Bay Restaurant Supply- Oakland, CA

Prep- Seal Beach, CA

Penzeys- Amazing spice store. Minneapolis, Tustin and many other U.S. locations

Williams Sonoma- National

Sur La Table- National

The Japan Woodworker- Alameda, CA. This is a special place and not really a kitchen store but they specialize in high-end Japanese knives, woodworking tools etc.

Forrest Jones- San Francisco, CA. I love this place, wonderful kitchen supplies, gorgeous wicker baskets, picnic baskets, place mats, chef’s knives etc.