Begin at the beginning, or New Beginnings

by Chef Rachelle Boucher

In early 2000, I saw a CBS segment about Elizabeth Murray, a homeless teen from the streets of NYC who ended up going to Harvard. I remembered some fairly hard times of my youth after my parents' divorce when it was hard to get by. I was so moved that I called the local homeless service provider, Homeward Bound of Marin, the next morning asking if they had any need for a fun, friendly hard working chef like me. They did.

As a culinary teacher and volunteer at the New Beginnings Center (NBC) since 2000, I have been able to help many residents begin their transition out of homelessness through the NBC's ground breaking culinary job training program, Fresh Starts Academy, run by my mentor, Chef Carol Menard. At that time, I was also the exclusive private chef for George Lucas and his family. I had many days working in the NBC transitional program in the morning and cooking for world famous people at night. It was easy for me to transition - food is my conduit. Hence the name: Degrees of Separation, Notes from a Chef, a reference to the incredible culinary connections and adventures I have in my life.

Fast forward to 2008, a tough year for so many, but a promising year for our program, with the opening of the incredible state of the art Next Key Center. This visionary center now houses the Fresh Starts Academy, catering and now, drum roll please, ...the Fresh Starts Cooking School! I am honored to be the new Cooking School Coordinator and to begin classes this month for the public featuring top teachers, chefs and cook book authors and of course, the best products from the Marin Farmers Market and our own on site garden!

All those years of teaching, volunteering, mentoring, chef wrangling (much more on that later!), cooking, promoting and yes, thousands of hours of dish washing, are coming in handy the new center. Food writer Leslie Harlib asked me today in an interview, "What makes your school different? Special?" Easy. Our vision of community, to be able to grow the first culinary community encompassing top culinary talent, Academy students, residents bettering their lives and our neighbors, united by food in a top notch facility. Join us as we all make magic together.

Tomorrow, I head to the Marin Farmers Market for produce for a private class on Saturday and to preview my choices for my premier class on Monday, April 6th from 6:30PM - 8:30PM with health educator Sue Weiss. Join us for "Farmers Market Salads for Spring" starring a killer Nicoise Salad with "Smoasted", (yes "Smoasted") Salmon, Jeweled Mixed Grain and Herb Salad and Spinach and Berry Salad with Parmesan Crisps". A two hour class and full meal for a fabulous introductory price of $49!

Check out our full lineup of fabulous chefs including cook book authors Eric Gower, the Breakaway Cook and Joyce Jue, Asian cuisine and travel expert.

Sign up online:
http://www.cookingschoolsofamerica.com/freshstartscookingschool/index.php?flag_menu_index=reservation_php#102

We've only just begun... (sing it!)