We are chefs, educators, event designers, and project managers that work together to plan and deliver exceptional culinary experiences for children, families, and corporate teams. Our classes are built upon our love of food, passion for cooking, and our desire to make every event or learning experience a celebration. More than anything, we’re a community of people who love working together.
Vanessa’s food journey began in her grandmother’s kitchen in Brazil, where she learned to make aioli and hand-roll gnocchi with love.
That early inspiration launched a lifelong passion for food, travel, and education. She earned a degree in Food Engineering from the University of Campinas, a Master’s in Holistic Nutrition from Hawthorn University, and worked across the food industry in the Czech Republic and Greece. Since settling in San Francisco, Vanessa has explored every step of food production — from gardening to teaching global culinary skills. She believes food is a bridge to community and environment, a gift, a medicine, and a source of joy. Her favorite food? Anything that connects her back to her roots.
Jessie’s guiding principle is simple: do impactful work with good people — and have a little fun along the way.
She blends creativity, critical thinking, and process to design unique and memorable client experiences. After completing her B.S. in Business at UC Berkeley, Jessie followed her passion for transforming big ideas into reality at LinkedIn, working across events, sales, and project management. Her passion for supporting youth weaves throughout her life — from serving as a foster care advocate to guiding sea kayaking trips. With over seven years of experience in event design, Jessie is dedicated to building meaningful celebrations that not only teach, but empower. Certifications: CASA Foster Youth Advocate; Disability Awareness. Her favorite food? Bread, warm and buttered.
Alicia believes the best medicine is time spent cooking and sharing nourishing meals, a passion sparked by her grandmother’s humble southern biscuits.
Her culinary journey has taken her from critically acclaimed restaurants across the country to Oakland, where she loves guiding tweens and teens on their own food adventures — from sustainable foraging to whole-animal butchery. Alicia brings a holistic approach to nutrition and cooking, showing students how food can nourish body, mind, and community. Her favorite food? Biscuits, of course — the fluffier, the better!
Gina’s guiding principle is simple: find joy in every part of the food journey — from growing to cooking to sharing.
She grew up in an Italian-American family where food was at the heart of every gathering (though getting a precise recipe was nearly impossible — “put in enough” and “bake until it’s done” were standard instructions!). Since 2006, Gina has worked in education with students of all ages, from preschoolers to adults, sharing her love of food and the stories behind it. Her teaching has taken her everywhere — from cooking on wood-burning stoves at historic farms to lecturing about sustainable agriculture in university classrooms and leading hands-on farm lessons where kids taste what they’ve grown. Gina loves sparking that moment of pride and wonder when someone takes a bite of their own creation and beams with joy. Her favorite food? Savory: Arancini. Sweet: Her mom’s Cuccidati.
Angela grew up baking alongside her mom and grandma, where she discovered the joy of creating in the kitchen and sharing it with others.
Born in Berkeley, she studied Human Development and Public Health and built years of teaching and nonprofit experience. Most recently, she launched Baking Wellness, a hands-on baking program for teens. When she’s not whisking up something sweet, you’ll find her in a friendly game of pool or pickleball. Her favorite food is tuna!
Radu brings a love of operations, strategy, and of course, coffee to everything he does at Culinary Artistas.
He joined the team in early 2023 as Fractional CMO, bringing years of expertise in marketing and revenue operations. As founder of EthicalHq, his boutique consultancy, he combines behavioral science with ethical practices to help organizations grow with integrity. When he’s not crafting campaigns, you’ll likely find him nerding out over a perfect cup of coffee. His favorite food? Anything that pairs well with an espresso.
Ellen blends fine dining chops with a love for teaching kids, making every class full of energy, laughter, and discovery in the kitchen.
After earning degrees from the University of Virginia and the Institute of Culinary Education, they cooked in some of California’s most celebrated kitchens. With over five years in early childhood education, Ellen loves sparking curiosity and confidence through food. Outside the kitchen, you’ll find them at dance class, FaceTiming their sisters, or exploring Bay Area beauty. Their favorite food is corn in all its crunchy, sweet, and buttery forms!
Lorraine has loved cooking since childhood, when she read cookbooks like novels and signed up for every class she could find.
After years in retail and helping chefs launch restaurants, she followed her dream and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in 2015. She later managed food programs at Google, leading teams that fed 8,000 employees across three states. In 2024, she launched her YouTube channel Food Immerse, exploring the history, science, and joy of cooking. Lorraine is passionate about making cooking approachable for everyone. Her favorite food? Fresh Dungeness crab with sourdough bread!
Ansarys spent 15 years as a pastry chef before finding her sweet spot in teaching, especially with older kids who love to experiment.
She brings a calm, encouraging presence to every class, giving kids space to explore creativity while guiding them to new skills. She loves sharing her pastry knowledge and learning alongside others. Her favorite food? Simple, cozy mashed potatoes — creamy, comforting, and always satisfying.
Kayla has been passionate about food since her first restaurant job in high school, and she’s been cooking with heart ever since.
She’s built a career blending cooking with sustainability, working across nonprofit and tech spaces to support healthy people and communities. At Culinary Artistas, Kayla is thrilled to teach kids to love cooking and care about where food comes from. Her favorite food is whatever veggies are freshest and in season!
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Culinary Artistas, Ghirardelli Square | 851 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 | » map it
info@culinaryartistas.com | (415) 735-5234
Our semi-annual menu release bash is back, baby! We've got professional headshots, a live DJ, interactive cooking stations, and industry leaders sharing how to curate sustainable events.
If you’re an event planner or company event lead in the Bay Area, we hope you join us to unwind, taste our new spring menu and network with other fun peers and party people.
Weds, April 24th from 5:30-7:30pm PST
Culinary Artistas, San Francisco
Tickets available on a first come, first serve basis