As a professional chef and owner of As You Like It catering in Marin County, I love preparing delicious food for my clients, family, and friends. And, as a registered nurse, I'm alert to the importance of eating well and eating smart. Whatever your age, cooking and eating smart will help you prevent disease and energize you to exercise and control your weight. When you get into the correct routine, you're literally cooking...for your life! My classes are fun. You arrive usually at 6 p.m. and settle into the living room with refreshments. I describe the menu and you choose which recipe you would like to prepare. First, cooking techniques are discussed for each recipe. Then you go to my professional home kitchen, apron up, and go to your prepared work station. You'll have a great time cooking and chatting (in French if you are in one of the Cours de Cuisine Française classes) while I help with the cooking. Then you and seven kitchen mates sit down to a family-style dinner. More about me! I graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1991. I've been a personal chef and caterer since graduation. My favorite world cuisines include Mediterranean, Caribbean, Italian, French, Mexican, and Asian. I believe that "at the table" literally means turning off the television, enjoying the meal with a large serving of family and friends' conversation, and, when possible, eating dishes made from organic products grown, raised, and harvested by local purveyors. As a result, I'm a strong supporter of Slow Food Marin-Petaluma, Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), and Marin Organic. Bon appétit! Buon appetito! Eat already!