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Success Stories

Master Chef Program and Master Baking Program Graduates

Carrie Stevens, Contestant, Master Chef, Los Angeles, CA

Dara Yu, Second Place Winner, Master Chef Jr., WINNER, Master Chef – Back to Win 2022

CHEF ERIC has taught professional and recreational cooking classes to thousands of students since 1999.   Many of his students are successful Restaurant Owners, Chefs, Caterers, Personal Chefs and Home Chefs.  His culinary, catering, and teaching career is studded with accolades from students, clients, and employers.  His love of gourmet food, cooking, and teaching is apparent.  Come take a class with him and add your name to the list!

These students own their own restaurants, cafes and businesses: 
Jeanette Bolden, Owner, 27th Street Bakery, Los Angeles, CA  27thStreetbakery.com
Niki Grennan, Owner, American Sweet Tooth
Lisa Schwab, Executive Chef, Cantalini’s, Playa del Rey, CA  https://www.cantalinissalernobeach.com/
David and Yovi Adir, OwnersThe Carving Board, Encino, CA eattheboard.com
Robert Atallah, Owner, Cedarlane Natural Foods Co., Cedarlanefoods.com
Herbert Diaz, Owner, Continental Bakery, Los Angeles, CA  https://www.continentalbakery.net/ 
Carolyn Strauss, Owner, Dolce Vita, Redondo Beach, CA
Hagop Giragossian, Owner, Dog Haus, Los Angeles, CA  https://doghaus.com/ 
Federico Criste, Owner, GC Crepe Makers, Los Angeles, CA  http://www.gccrepes.com/ 
Scott Troupe, OwnerGoodFellas Taco Catering, Los Angeles, CA  https://goodfellastacos.com/
Jod Soraci, Owner, Goombah Gourmet Show on YouTube
Grant Rowe, Owner, Green Street Restaurant, Pasadena, CA  https://greenstreetrestaurant.com/
Chris Bicos, OwnerGus’s BBQ, South Pasadena, CA   https://www.gussbbq.com/ & Tops Burgers, Pasadena, CA  https://www.topsburger.com/ 
Andrew Morrison, Owner, Hiatus Urban Barbeque, LA, CA www.HiatusBBQ.com
Traci Davis, Owner, My Lai Kitchen, Venice, CA https://www.mylaikitchen.com                                  Coly Den Haan, OwnerThe Must, Los Angeles, CA https://www.themust.com  
Luca Borin, Owner, The Sage Room Ristorante Italiano, Agoura, CA
Alana Stefano, Owner, Stefanos Golden Baked Hams, Café & Catering Company, Yorba Linda, CA  https://www.stefanoshams.com/ 
Sakeenah Sievwright , Owner/Sweet Specialist, Soul Sweet, Soul-Sweet.com
Dora Liang, Owner, Sweet and Savory, Award-Winning Restaurant, San Marino, CA  https://sweetandsavorysm.com/
Shana Elson, Owner, Top this Chocolate, topthischocolate.com, Ventura, CA

These students work at these restaurants, cafes and businesses:
Bryce Fluellen, Chef, American Heart Association, Los Angeles, CA  https://www.heart.org/
Alex Saavedra, Line Cook, Bay Club, Santa Monica, CA  https://www.bayclubs.com
Kimberly Mota, Pastry Chef, BLD Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA
Chris Shannon, Restaurant Manager, Bloomingdales, Los Angeles, CA  https://www.bloomingdales.com/ 
Jameson Markham, Executive Chef, Bow and Truss, North Hollywood, CA
Jose Rojas, Chef, The Dal Rae, Pico Rivera, CA http://www.dalrae.com/
Michelle Dornidon, Del Frisco’s, Los Angeles, CA  https://delfriscos.com
Matthew Todd, Chef, Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, CA
Keri Suffoleta, Golden State Foods, City of Industry, CA  https://goldenstatefoods.com/
Ricardo Olivas, Certified Culinary Scientist, Guerrero Tortillas/Mission Foods, Mission Hills, CA   https://www.missionfoods.com/ 
Michael Price, The Hungry Cat, Santa Monica, CA
Nestor Flores, Line Cook, Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica, CA  https://www.thehuntleyhotel.com
Otilio Andres, Manager, Lazy Daisy Cafe, Los Angeles, CA  https://lazydaisycafebrentwood.com
Julie GatezWilmot, Line Cook, Le Bon Accueil, Malbuisson, France and Mirabelle Wine Bar, Valley Village, CA https://mirabellewinebarla.com
Leonore Harmel, Pastry Chef, Le Mistral, Houston, TX
Nehemiah Kingdom, Chef, Neiman Marcus, Woodland Hills, CA  https://www.neimanmarcus.com
Andres Hernandez, Chef, Nishi Poke & Ramen Bistro, Los Angeles, CA https://www.nishipokeramen.com/ 
Eddie Gilbert, Chef, North End Cafe, Redondo Beach, CA http://northendmb.com
Guillermo Posadas, Ollo Café, Malibu, CA https://www.ollomalibu.com/
Jacqueline Ortiz, Manager, Pedalers Fork, Los Angeles, CA  https://www.pedalersfork.com
Janette Gavarino, Chef, Silverado Senior Living, Silverado, CA  https://www.silverado.com
Nosizwe Moleah, Pastry Chef, SPAGO Beverly Hills, CA https://wolfgangpuck.com/dining/spago-2 
Shira Bensonpeck, Cake Decorator,  Vons Supermarket, Los Angeles,   https://www.vons.com
Hayden Muir, Chef, Jean-Georges/Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills, https://www.waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com/dining/jean-georges/ 
Diana Contreras, Pastry Chef, Yummy Cupcakes, Burbank, http://www.yummycupcakes.com

Other restaurants, cafes and businesses that my students have worked in:
Brassarie Communitarie, Oxnard, CA
Enegren Brewery, Moorpark, CA http://www.enegrenbrewing.com/ 
Hinoke and the Bird, Los Angeles, CA  http://www.hinokiandthebird.com/
Joe’s Restaurant, Venice, CA
Joey Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills, CA https://joeyrestaurants.com/
La Brea Bakery, Los Angeles, CA  https://www.labreabakery.com/
Mélisse, a Michelin 2 Star Award Winning Restaurant, Santa Monica, CA https://www.citrinandmelisse.com/ 
NBC, Los Angeles, CA
Nordstroms, The Grove, Los Angeles, CA  https://thegrovela.com/dining/bar-verde-at-nordstrom/ 
Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, CA  https://la.osteriamozza.com/
Playa, Los Angeles, CA
Portos Bakery and Cafe, Downey, CA https://www.portosbakery.com/
Redwood Grille, Santa Monica, CA
The Stalking Horse Brewery & Freehouse, Los Angeles, CA https://www.thestalkinghorsepub.com/ 
Susie Cakes, Los Angeles, CA  http://susiecakes.com/
Tuscan Son, Los Angeles, CA https://www.tuscansonla.com/ 
Zinqué, Venice, CA  https://www.lezinque.com/venice

Bloggers / Consultants:
Veronia Hendrix, Food Blogger/Journalist/Author, Collard Greens and Caviar https://collardgreensandcaviar.com/
Carolyn Stewart, Owner, In No Thyme, Restaurant Consulting, Los Angeles, CA https://www.innothyme.com/ 
Stephanie Walker, Chef & Nutrition Consultant, Oak Park, CA
Jacqueline King, OwnerThe Feel Good Kitchen, Pescan Cookbook, LA, CA  https://thefeelgoodkitchen.tv/ 
Rick Nahmias, Founder/Executive Director, Food Forward, Los Angeles, CA https://foodforward.org/
Neha Mathur, Award Winning BLOG: Whiskaffair  https://www.whiskaffair.com/ 

Personal Chef’s:
Nancy Acevedo, Personal Chef, Los Angeles, CA
Ros Hatch, Personal Chef/Caterer, New York and Los Angeles
Solange Alencar, Personal Chef, Owner, Savory by Solange, LA, CA  http://savorybysolange.com/
Amanda Jones, Chef, Chefs For Seniors, https://chefsforseniors.com/martin-st-lucie-counties/ 

Marcelino Ortiz, Owner – What JMO Cooks, https://www.instagram.com/whatjmocooks/ 

Joey Shelton, Owner, Caterer/Personal Chef/Meal Prep, Redbonez Kitchen, Los Angeles, CA https://www.redbonezkitchen.com/

Sonia Vissani Lesko, Chef, Chefs For Seniors https://chefsforseniors.com/west-los-angeles-area

Caterers:
Bill Blackburn, Owner, Blackburn’s Catering, Corona, CA  https://blackburnscatering.com/
Lon Baines, Owner, Let’s Have a Cart Party Catering Company, Los Angeles, CA https://letshaveacartparty.com/
Ray Lopez, Owner, Cooking What You Crave, Palm Desert, CA https://www.cookingwhatyoucrave.com/

Aaliha McCord, Owner, LA Avenue Catering, Los Angeles, CA  mccordaliha@gmail.com 

Elva Garcia, Owner, Mariscos El Compa Ivan & Catering, Long Beach, CA https://mariscoselcompaivan.com/    

Nikole Myers, Executive Chef, Seasoned LA Catering Company, Los Angeles, CA
Andrea Range Valani, Owner, Arangements/Southern Hospitality Catering https://www.arangemnts.com/ 
Sukhmani Nagpal, Owner, Tukda Indian Catering, Los Angeles, CA https://www.tukdamoh.com/ 
Donna Barrow, OwnerYour Plate or Mine, Inc., Personal Chef/Catering Company, Los Angeles, CA http://yourplateormineinc.com/

Pastry Chefs / Bakers:

Leticia Benitez, Professional Cake Decorating @lettys_dulce_reposteria_/