The Creative Kitchen™ Team
Abbie Gellman: CFO (Bean Counter) & Director of Nutrition
Abbie Gellman has over 12 years of consulting and equity research experience. Abbie spent several years in the Hospitality & Leisure consulting division of PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she performed financial and operational consulting for a wide range of hotel and food and beverage companies. Eventually she moved to Wall Street and spent several years as a Senior Associate in equity research. She covered the restaurant industry sector at Harris Nesbitt/Bank of Montreal, Thomas Weisel Partners, and Goldman Sachs. Abbie left Wall Street in 2007 to spend more time with her family. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Registered Dietitian certification from Columbia University. Abbie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. In addition, she also earned her Culinary Degree from Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School (now known as the Institute of Culinary Education).
Stephanie Hacker: Director of Web and Social Media
Stephanie is a mass communications specialist with more than five years of experience in the publishing industry and Cricket’s social media guru. She provides design and web development direction and execution and is responsible for maintaining content on the website (text and images) and social media platforms. Stephanie manages sponsorship collateral and presentations for The Creative Kitchen, as well as develops comprehensive online and social media promotions. In addition, she is a contributing writer and social media guru for Kids Food Festival. She holds her B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure University.
Candice Batson: Director of Cooking Classes, Parties & Playdates
Candice leads The Creative Kitchen teaching team and coordinates cooking classes, parties and playdates throughout NYC. Her passion for children and cooking has amounted to several years experience working with youth; mentoring children with special needs at St. Christopher Ottilie Residential Treatment Facility, teaching pre-school and tutoring children of varying ages and abilities. Candice is also a budding foodie and writes a blog for the inexperienced cook, Cooks Curiosity. She holds her B.A. in Communications Arts and Business from The College of New Rochelle.
Jenna Israel: Director of Food Operations and Instructor
Jenna Israel wears many hats around The Creative Kitchen. Since joining the team she has helped with recipe organization and design, food costing, ordering and also is a member of the teaching team for children’s cooking classes throughout NYC. She is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute with a Chef’s Training degree and from The Institute of Culinary Education with a Culinary Management degree. She is also the owner/operator of Lagers and Loins, a private cooking business that specializes in dinner parties.
Rachel Saks: Nutrition Program Coordinator
Rachel Saks, MS, RD has loved to cook ever since she was old enough to stand on a chair at the counter and wield a plastic knife. She has an M.S. in Education and is a Registered Dietitian. Rachel has taught cooking classes at JCC Manhattan and the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts . She developed and rana program for 8-16 year olds that combines nutrition education, mindful eating, cooking instruction and physical activity. Rachel also is the co-author of Jewish American Food Culture. Rachel brings a unique, holistic philosophy to teaching nutrition. She believes that a healthy lifestyle is built on making the right choices in the kitchen, at the supermarket, and at the table. You can learn more about what she does at www.tablehealth.com.
Titus Thomas: Artist
Titus Thomas freelanced as a Research Artist for critically acclaimed shows such as, Little Bill, based on the series by Bill Cosby, Dora the Explorer, and Backyardigans on Nick Jr. He also served as an illustrator and graphic designer for Jolinda Inc., Varcity Clothing, Zinka Clothing, Hollah.com, YSB Magazine, Shadowbox Magazine, SONY College Music, and Atlantic Studios. Titus’s storyboards and character designs have been used in short films entitled Tag, Feather, Esporanza, Mad About Harry, and Nah…Son. Titus also developed educational programs for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Children’s Theater.
Erin Laverty
Erin Laverty assists Cricket with research, writing, editing, recipe development, teaching, and PR and marketing. She holds a Master’s degree in Food Studies from New York University (NYU), and has a passion for all things food, wine and travel. She has contributed to Kiwi Magazine, as well as other writing projects. She also holds Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and a Master’s degree in Counseling from San Francisco State University (SFSU).
Board of Advisors:
Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D: Assistant Professor & Director, City University of New York
Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D. is a classically trained chef and Associate Professor of culinary arts at Kingsborough Community College, City University of New York and public health at the CUNY Graduate Center. He is the education editor of the journal Food, Culture and Society and author or editor of five books including (with Annie Hauck-Lawson) Gastropolis: Food and New York City, (with Sarah Billingsley and Cricket Azima) Culinary Improvisation, and (with Jeff Miller) Food Studies: An Introduction to Research Methods. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (AOS, Culinary Arts), Drexel University (BS, Hospitality Management) and New York University (Ph.D., Food Studies and Food Management), he has worked as a chef in a variety of settings including institutions, restaurants and product development, both in the US and abroad. When not in the kitchen, Jonathan can be found playing tuba in community bands around New York City.
Steve Zagor: Director of Management Programs, The Institute of Culinary Education; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Food Studies, New York University
Steve Zagor has over 25 years of experience in various aspects of the hospitality industry and has extensive financial experience in the planning, development and management of a wide variety of leisure time industry projects with particular emphasis on restaurants and retail food businesses. Steve’s background is diversified including: owner of a multi-concept restaurant/retail/club group; the General Manager of a $10 million NYC restaurant; and owner and managing partner of an award winning limited service restaurant and retail marketplace. He has a Masters Degree from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and was the Manager of Hospitality Consulting for ten years for Laventhol & Horwath and later for Coopers and Lybrand.
Currently, he is The Director of Management Programs at The Institute of Culinary Education, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Studies at New York University. He has been quoted in major publications such as Forbes, The New York Times, Crain’s New York Business and The New York Post. Mr. Zagor also appeared as an expert on The Food Network’s Recipes For Success.
Susan Hosmer: Managing Partner, Bullfrog & Baum
As Managing Partner, Susan Hosmer oversees branding, public relations and marketing for Bullfrog & Baum’s hospitality division where she brings creativity, organization and passion to all client programs. After four years in advertising working with clients such as Microsoft and Coca-Cola, Susan chose to follow her true dream and pursue a career in the ever-evolving world of food. A graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education, Susan worked alongside one of the industry’s top consultants, Clark Wolf, and the world’s great chefs, Jean-Georges Vongerichten. She received her Masters of Arts in Food Studies from New York University where she co-wrote, directed and produced a documentary film exploring women chefs featuring interviews with industry ground-breakers such as Sara Moulton, Patricia Yeo, Ruth Reichl, and Lidia Bastianich. In 2004, Hosmer opened the Los Angeles office of Bullfrog & Baum and helped build a west coast roster of notable clients including Wolfgang Puck, David Myers Group (Sona, Boule, comme Ca); SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills (The Bazaar by Jose Andres); and Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills (Culina). Susan’s diverse experience and love for gastronomy brings a unique perspective to her work at Bullfrog & Baum.
Alison Tozzi Liu: Director of Media, James Beard Foundation
Alison Tozzi Liu is the director of media at the James Beard Foundation. She holds a master’s degree in food studies from New York University and a culinary arts degree from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She has extensive experience cooking in restaurants, food styling, and editorial work. Alison has developed and tested recipes for several cookbooks including a series of South Beach Diet cookbooks and the children’s cookbook Everybody Eats Lunch. Her writing on food has appeared in the Oxford Encyclopedia of American Food and Kiwi magazine.
Christine Carroll: Founder, CulinaryCorps®
Christine Carroll founded CulinaryCorps® in 2006 with the aim of creating a world-class service organization for culinary professionals.
Christine conceived of CulinaryCorps following a Share Our Strength conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, which she attended as a Henckels Cutting Edge scholarship recipient. In New Orleans, she experienced first-hand one of America’s few indigenous cuisines, and she worked alongside those fighting to preserve it during the post-Katrina rebuilding.
Shortly after her return home to New York City, Christine launched CulinaryCorps to enable culinary students and professionals to volunteer their skills for the benefit of communities in need.
Prior to CulinaryCorps, Christine worked as an Americorps VISTA volunteer in Alaska, a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, a cook in Europe, and a baker in New England. She has a degree in neuroscience from the College of William and Mary and a Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute. She recently left the post of Culinary Center Director at Whole Foods Market Bowery (helping urban home cooks rediscover their kitchens through a variety of cooking classes) and is currently writing a cookbook about restaurant staff meals with co-author Jody Eddy due out in Fall 2012 by Running Press.
Barbara Beery: Founder, Batter Up Kids Culinary Center and Cookbook Author
With a degree in elementary education, a passion for cooking, and three children of her own, Barbara Beery is the quintessential kids’ cooking instructor and entrepreneur. Frustrated with the “pre-cooked” classes available to kids, Barbara founded Batter Up Kids Culinary Center, with the goal of offering interactive classes that focused on healthier food options. Sixteen years later, Batter Up Kids is a growing franchise, and Barbara is a published author and experienced spokesperson (most recently with Sun-Maid), looking to stir up more opportunity in the kitchen.
Sara Gragnolati: Founder & CEO, Cocomama Foods
Sara is the founder and CEO of Cocomama Foods, an all-natural and gluten-free food brand based on ancient grains.
Sara’s insight into food trends combined with the ability to negotiate a contract began at a mere six years old when she canvassed her hometown selling Girl Scout Cookies. Realizing her gift for gab, she attended the University of Scranton and earned her degree in Communications. Upon graduation she entered the world of natural & organic products. It only took some hazelnut milk, raw kombucha and local bacon for Sara to become hooked on the business.
Ironically, eight years later she was diagnosed with food allergies. After recognizing that there was a huge lack of nutritious options (and don’t even get her started on taste), Sara decided gluten- and allergy-free consumers like her deserved more than puffed rice and corn flakes. Thus, Cocomama was born.
When not reading recipe books or watching the Food Network, Sara is convincing someone else to cook for her.
Sandy Dirkx: Director of PS116 AfterSchool KidsClubs
Samira Mahboubian
Abby Singh
