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Rocky has been in the culinary world for just about 30 years. He attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. He was on the opening team of the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, a AAA 5 Diamond property. He also is a wine enthusiast. He has managed tasting rooms in California and brings his deep knowledge of wine to Kara’s. Rocky has been in Bend for almost two years and started working as the House Chef and Culinary Director of Kara’s Kitchenware in 2021. He leads and manages all of Kara’s Kitchenwares’ cooking classes, wine dinners and special events.
Growing up in an Italian family, food was the center of every gathering. This influenced Chef Candy Argondizza’s love of food and the desire to pursue it as a career, which began with earning her degree from The Culinary Institute of America. Chef Candy has led kitchens in some of NYC’s finer restaurants, including invitations to cook at the famed James Beard House.
Chef Candy’s desire to teach let her to the International Culinary Center (formerly the French Culinary Institute) in NYC, where she taught the professional curriculum and mentored many aspiring chefs. In 2012, she received the prestigious “Educator of the Year” award from the International Association of Culinary Professions (IACP) in recognition of her role as a teacher and administrator. After a few years of teaching at FCI, she was tapped to lead the entire faculty of both culinary and pastry, and creating curriculum for the professional and amateur programs. Chef Candy worked alongside ICC’s legendary deans and worked on all of the ICC published cookbooks. Chef Candy moved to Bend in 2017 starting her own culinary business, Ingredient Studio, with her partner. She continues to share her knowledge and talents with all food lovers in Bend and Central Oregon.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Jessica loved being in the kitchen with her Mom (even if she only let her peel carrots and stir rice pudding). In 2006, after burnout in the corporate world as a project manager for EPA Superfund sites, the opportunity to train as a personal chef was offered and she jumped at the chance. She partnered the one-on-one training with schooling from the Culinary Business Academy and hasn’t stopped trying new recipes since!!
Jessica owns In The Fridge Personal Chef Service which was started in Bend, OR as an answer to so many prayers for healthy meals when families were stretched thin after homeschooling, Zoom meetings and spending way more time in their own kitchens than most people enjoy!! It’s fulfilling to provide this service and a pleasure to help others.S
You might not know this about Thai people, but they take food very seriously. In fact when friends and family meet one of the first things they ask is, “Gin cow may?” Which translates to “Would you like to eat?” It’s an invitation and it’s how Thai people show they care for one another.
Anne is originally from Bangkok, Thailand – a city named the world’s street food capital. Growing up she had the opportunity to learn from her grandmother, mother, and aunts, who are all avid cooks. Catching a thirst for adventure at a young age Anne has had the chance to live, work, and travel in Australia, Europe, Asia, and now calls Central Oregon home. But she always had a love for her country’s food and starting in 2019 Anne dedicated herself to travel across Thailand to each city in order to taste the unique styles and flavors that can be found.
In 2022 Anne graduated from Bangkok Service Cooking School, where she was able to learn the traditional methods and authentic flavors that have been passed down since the 13th century. She owns PROUD Thai Cuisine where she delivers At-Home Cooking Classes, Private Dinners, & Catering in Bend, Oregon.
Maybe it’s the sugar rush, or the challenge of baking at altitude in the High Desert, but Penny says her favorite thing about her job is that she gets to help others celebrate life’s special moments with a delicious and beautiful dessert.
A Central Oregon native, Penny Fraker was classically trained in pastry at Bend’s own Cascade Culinary Institute, where she graduated with honors at the top of her class. Her love for baking grew into a thriving business, as she launched Penny Bakes in 2021, a cottage bakery specializing in cakes and macarons.
Her husband and two college-aged children are her biggest cheerleaders and favorite taste-testers. When she’s not in the kitchen trying new chemistry experiments or perfecting her recipes, she can be found having coffee with friends, binge watching Netflix, or eating cake.
Over the years, Brian has been privileged to lead kitchens in a number of diverse and high-profile settings, including Morton’s The Steakhouse, The Stephanie Inn, The Oregon Golf Club, Deschutes Brewery and Public House, the Alexander, CHOW, and currently he is leading the team at Anthony’s, right here in the Old Mill District. With a focus on sustainability and purchasing locally, he’s developed strong relationships with providers of the highest quality farm-fresh food available in Central Oregon. He enjoys sharing and celebrating unforgettable culinary creations with guests from around the world. When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll find him spending time with his wife and sons enjoying all that Bend has to offer including hiking, fly fishing, camping, kayaking and bird watching!
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