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Elaine Wilson, Cooking Teacher and Personal Chef
Elaine is a self-taught well-seasoned cooking instructor, personal chef and food aficionado integral to the Edmonton food community. Growing up in rural Alberta in the 1960’s and 1970’s, food in our home was typical of the time: plain and simple, much of it out of a box or tin. My mom, like her mother and grandmother, had neither a talent for, nor an interest in cooking. Starting young, Elaine voraciously watched cooking shows on television: “the entertaining Graham Kerr, the relaxed Julia Child, who seemed to be most at home in the kitchen, the rustic cooking of Jeff Smith, and later, the “isn’t food wonderful” Nick Stellino. But, it was the bright flavours created by Stephen Yan and Martin Yan, coupled with their enthusiasm and how much fun they had cooking, that appealed to me most. I scribbled dozens of recipes and collected them in a binder (which I still have).”
Elaine would experiment with what limited ingredients were available in small town Alberta at that time, and by 14, had taken over her family kitchen. A move to Thailand at 18 years old was no surprise, as Asian food was her signature. “My food world exploded! Seafood, vegetables, citrus, chilis, curries, herbs, spices! I was smitten. Since then, having lived in or travelled to dozens of countries, I’ve continued to explore food at its root wherever I am, seeking out great cooks who have been gracious to teach me dishes they cook for their families from recipes they learned from their mothers and grandmothers. “
The past ten years, Elaine has shared many of those recipes and many of those she developed through her travels when creating in-home dining experiences through her thriving local business: Food You Can Cook, Inc.. She has taught thousands of students from 6 to 86; and appears regularly on Breakfast Television. “I’ve been blessed to build a thriving business based on those long-ago scribbled scraps of paper and the kind generosity of wonderful cooks around the world who’ve been my best teachers.”
Elaine believes in keeping it real and in having fun in the kitchen. No one has as much energy or enthusiasm. “Cook from the heart for those you love and don’t take it too seriously or get caught up in trends, technique, jargon or gadgets.” Elaine is cognoscente of the elitism that can be associated with taking a cooking class, or learning to cook and offers affordable classes for all. She offers a wide range of cooking classes that are all hands-on: students cook everything and classes are limited to just 4 people to ensure everyone gets a lot of personal coaching, though private classes can be booked for groups up to 20 people. Though much of her food is global, she is passionate about supporting the local producers and farmers in her community and “in a world where so many go without, we need to be grateful for and celebrate the abundance available to us: fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, beautiful herbs and spices, ethically raised meat and sustainable seafood.”
Check out upcoming classes on her website and be sure to book as soon as possible. Elaine will also prepare group classes to meet the needs of the group. Starting in 2015, Elaine will be hosting boutique tours to Thailand and Turkey, limited to just 6 people, to allow flexibility and access to experiences and places not available to larger groups. Other countries will be added, in time.
“Sharing a meal is how we connect with each other, and preparing it together makes the food that much more delicious.”
Elaine Wilson, Cooking Teacher and Personal Chef
Food You Can Cook, Inc.
Box 4297, Edmonton, AB T6E 4T3
780-433-6599
http://www.foodyoucancook.com/products.html