Chop Chat Chew

Today’s profusion of non-dairy options is astonishing, and maybe just a tad confusing. Join Chef Fran, our director of Vegan Pastry at Rouxbe, to explore the vast array of plant milks, creams, yogurt, butters. It’s not just soy and rice milk (or the dreaded hydrogenated margarine) anymore.

For vegan or lactose intolerant folks, these ingredients are a boon. Plant-based dairy products are kinder to the environment and animals, and   cholesterol-free too. Chef Fran will walk you through the plethora of plant milks, butters, yogurts, creams, focusing on types, ingredients and when to use one over another.

DIY plant milks and a simple recipe for making vegan butter are on the table.

Fran Costigan is internationally renowned as the authority on vegan desserts. Trained at the New York Restaurant School and Natural Gourmet Institute, Fran was a chef in both traditional and vegan pastry kitchens before moving into teaching over 20 years ago. A lifelong chocoholic and long time vegan, Fran’s latest book, Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy Free Desserts, (Running Press 2013) is for all who madly, deeply love chocolate desserts, whether or not dietary considerations are an issue.

Her previous cookbook, More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts Naturally (Book Publishing Company 2006) is the basis of the Costigan Vegan Baking Boot Camp Intensive®.

For more information, www.francostigan.com

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chef Char Nolan in her virtual office as she welcomes all of your questions. From cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a professional chef, Chef Nolan tackled all variety of questions!

Char Nolan is a serious crusader for plant-based education, armed with a degree in public health from Philadelphia’s Temple University. She teaches nutrition and plant-based cooking throughout Philadelphia, and in many underserved communities. Char holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell and completed Rouxbe’s Plant-Based Professional Certification course in 2015. In 2019, Char completed post-graduate course work in social media marketing at the University of the Arts. When she is not cooking or teaching, she manages social media accounts for several plant-based influencers.

Char prides herself on learning everything she knows about cooking from growing up in her grandparents’ Italian restaurant. Her favorite vegetables are Brussels sprouts and kale, of course. Char originally hails from Queens, NY, but has lived in Philadelphia most of her adult life. She is a former Peace Corps Volunteer.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chef Ken Rubin in his virtual office as he welcomes all of your questions. From cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a professional chef, Chef Ken tackled all variety of questions!

Ken Rubin is a nationally recognized chef, educator, food anthropologist and with over 25 years of broad culinary industry experience. He currently serves as the Chief Culinary Officer at Rouxbe, the world’s leading online culinary school that has helped over 600,000 people learn to cook better. Rouxbe delivers technique focused culinary instruction to home cooks, professional cooks and healthcare professionals around the world through leading edge partnerships with organizations such as Marriott International, Compass USA, The James Beard Foundation, Hyatt Hotels, Trilogy Health Services, Wegmans, The American College of Lifestyle Medicine and many others.

Ken has also held top-level teaching and executive leadership positions at well-respected culinary academies and training organizations including Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America, Chefs.com, the Art Institute of Portland, and the Natural Epicurean Academy. 

Ken currently serves as the Chair of the James Beard Foundation’s Broadcast Media Awards Committee which oversees the national recognition for television, film, radio, and online food media content. Ken previously served as a Board Director for the International Association Culinary Professionals (IACP) before joining as Trustee and Chair of The Culinary Trust, IACP’s philanthropic foundation founded by Julia Child.

Ken is a regular speaker and presenter at culinary and medical conferences. He received his BA from Colorado College and an MA in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his family enjoy cooking and eating in Portland, Oregon.Join Chef Ken Rubin in his virtual office as he welcomes all of your questions. This event was created for you and we encourage you to Ask Anything – from cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a professional chef, Chef Ken is ready to answer them all.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chef Eric Wynkoop in his virtual office as she welcomes all of your questions. From cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a chef, Eric Wynkoop tackled all variety of questions!

Eric Wynkoop previously served as a founding faculty member at The International Culinary School, instructor in anthropology at Portland State University, and Senior Instructor at the Le Cordon Bleu program at Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Oregon. He holds Master’s Degrees in postsecondary education and cultural anthropology, as well as credentials in Ayurveda wellness and cooking.

Eric has spent more than twenty years in the food and beverage industry. His experiences include banquet management, catering, personal chef, winery cellar hand, educator, textbook contributor, consultant, and ethnographer. He also brings food and cultural insight from nearly a decade of residence in Japan, studies in Mexico, and research in India as a Fulbright Scholar. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a dual degree in Japanese and Asian Studies, he went on to receive his formal culinary training at Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Oregon.

Eric’s role with Rouxbe is central to enhancing the student experience through quality course content and new course development at Rouxbe. Eric is also the lead instructor in Rouxbe courses, a role which he has enjoyed since 2016.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer as he dives into his old recipe books and dusts off his Springerle machine to reveal his holiday favorites.  As always, Chef Jacquy is joined by Chef Scott Samuel for this lively conversation.

Learn to craft traditional Springerle shortbread cookies and other cherished treats, including sugar-glazed gingerbread stars with candied oranges, an array of savory kougelopfs, a luscious black forest yule log, hazelnut chocolate truffles, and much much more!  

Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer's exceptional career began with an apprenticeship in Alsace at the famous Jean Clauss Pâtisserie. Following his apprenticeship in Strasbourg, Pfeiffer went on to establish himself as a leading figure in the art of pastry working with some world-renowned families and establishments. Some of these include the Royal Family in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the Sultan of Brunei; the Hyatt Regency, Hong Kong; a prestigious pastry shop in Palo Alto, California; and both the Fairmont and Sheraton hotels in Chicago, Illinois. These experiences led Chef Pfeiffer to teach and consult in numerous of the most prominent properties and companies worldwide, such as the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas, and the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

In 1995, Jacquy Pfeiffer along with Sébastien Canonne, founded The French Pastry School where their team is devoted to imparting excellence. Today, The French Pastry School is considered one of the leading pastry institutions in the world.

Spanning nearly 30 years, Chef Scott Samuel’s distinguished culinary career has included leadership roles in culinary innovation, instruction, operations and program development. Before joining Rouxbe as the Vice President of Culinary, Scott served as the Director of Culinary Innovation for Zipongo, a digital health company focused on making it easier to eat well. Prior to Zipongo Scott worked with The Culinary Institute of America as the Executive Chef of the college’s Strategic Initiatives Group and as an instructor in the culinary arts degree program where he coordinated the food operations for the culinary college’s industry leadership conferences, including Menus of Change, in partnership with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Scott earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Administration from Washington State University and spent a summer studying at the Cesar Ritz Institute of Hotel Management in Switzerland.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Vegan Pastry Master Fran Costigan for an exploration of Holiday Showstopper desserts!

Learn how to make the spectacular holiday log known as Buche de Noel complete with mushrooms and forest ‘dirt’ and how to make Baked Jelly Donut (Sufganiyot) for Chanukah. 

The Chef Fran way means making components ahead, a simpler shaped cake and variations for dietary considerations.

Fran Costigan is internationally renowned as the authority on vegan desserts. Trained at the New York Restaurant School and Natural Gourmet Institute, Fran was a chef in both traditional and vegan pastry kitchens before moving into teaching over 20 years ago. A lifelong chocoholic and long time vegan, Fran’s latest book, Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy Free Desserts, (Running Press 2013) is for all who madly, deeply love chocolate desserts, whether or not dietary considerations are an issue.

Her previous cookbook, More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts Naturally (Book Publishing Company 2006) is the basis of the Costigan Vegan Baking Boot Camp Intensive®.

For more information, www.francostigan.com

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chef Dan Marek in his virtual office as he welcomes all of your questions. From cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a professional chef, Chef Dan tackled all variety of questions!

Dan Marek is a chef educator who has been teaching vegan and vegetarian cooking for over 15 years. At Rouxbe, he is our Director of Plant-Based Culinary and Development where he helps develop content, classes and builds courses for many of our partners.

Dan is a board member of Slow Food Austin, the Institute of Child Nutrition, and Conscious Capitalism. He has earned his BA in Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and holds certificates in Nutrition from Cornell University.

Prior to his role with Rouxbe, Dan worked with Whole Kids Foundation training teachers and food service at schools across the country on nutrition and culinary best practices. He also worked as a Healthy Eating Educator at Whole Foods Market’s flagship store in Austin, TX, was a personal chef for some of Austin’s elite business people, taught classes in culinary techniques at Austin Community College, The Natural Epicurean, and Le Cordon Bleu.

Dan also regularly volunteers cooking or speaking about nutrition for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Marathon Kids, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chefs Jacquy Pfeiffer and Scott Samuel for an exploration of some exciting new ideas for the holidays!

Learn how to make quince jelly and spread from scratch, and learn how to flavor it with hibiscus petals and elderberry to create a delicious tart.

Other recipes include a fresh pear pie, “the Jacquy way” and a thin puff pastry galette featuring mushrooms sautéed with parsley, pink garlic, feta cheese, and bacon bits. You won't want to miss this event as Chef Jacquy will also share his foolproof cider and caramel-infused apple tart!

Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer's exceptional career began with an apprenticeship in Alsace at the famous Jean Clauss Pâtisserie. Following his apprenticeship in Strasbourg, Pfeiffer went on to establish himself as a leading figure in the art of pastry working with some world-renowned families and establishments. Some of these include the Royal Family in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the Sultan of Brunei; the Hyatt Regency, Hong Kong; a prestigious pastry shop in Palo Alto, California; and both the Fairmont and Sheraton hotels in Chicago, Illinois. These experiences led Chef Pfeiffer to teach and consult in numerous of the most prominent properties and companies worldwide, such as the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas, and the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

In 1995, Jacquy Pfeiffer along with Sébastien Canonne, founded The French Pastry School where their team is devoted to imparting excellence. Today, The French Pastry School is considered one of the leading pastry institutions in the world.

Spanning nearly 30 years, Chef Scott Samuel’s distinguished culinary career has included leadership roles in culinary innovation, instruction, operations and program development. Before joining Rouxbe as the Vice President of Culinary, Scott served as the Director of Culinary Innovation for Zipongo, a digital health company focused on making it easier to eat well. Prior to Zipongo Scott worked with The Culinary Institute of America as the Executive Chef of the college’s Strategic Initiatives Group and as an instructor in the culinary arts degree program where he coordinated the food operations for the culinary college’s industry leadership conferences, including Menus of Change, in partnership with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Scott earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Administration from Washington State University and spent a summer studying at the Cesar Ritz Institute of Hotel Management in Switzerland.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

Join Chef Char Nolan in her virtual office as she welcomes all of your questions. From cooking techniques to course-specific questions, to how to turn your cooking passion into profit or simply hearing the perspective of a professional chef, Chef Nolan tackled all variety of questions!  

Char Nolan is a serious crusader for plant-based education, armed with a degree in public health from Philadelphia’s Temple University. She teaches nutrition and plant-based cooking throughout Philadelphia, and in many underserved communities. Char holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell and completed Rouxbe’s Plant-Based Professional Certification course in 2015. In 2019, Char completed post-graduate course work in social media marketing at the University of the Arts. When she is not cooking or teaching, she manages social media accounts for several plant-based influencers.

Char prides herself on learning everything she knows about cooking from growing up in her grandparents’ Italian restaurant. Her favorite vegetables are Brussels sprouts and kale, of course. Char originally hails from Queens, NY, but has lived in Philadelphia most of her adult life. She is a former Peace Corps Volunteer.

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.

It’s the time of year to be thinking about Holiday Meals, and Holiday Desserts are a must!

This year let’s enjoy desserts that are healthier and lighter but no less delightful.

Join Vegan Pastry Master Fran Costigan for this exploration of full flavored but surprisingly better-for you desserts!

Fran Costigan is internationally renowned as the authority on vegan desserts. Trained at the New York Restaurant School and Natural Gourmet Institute, Fran was a chef in both traditional and vegan pastry kitchens before moving into teaching over 20 years ago. A lifelong chocoholic and long time vegan, Fran’s latest book, Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy Free Desserts, (Running Press 2013) is for all who madly, deeply love chocolate desserts, whether or not dietary considerations are an issue.

Her previous cookbook, More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts Naturally (Book Publishing Company 2006) is the basis of the Costigan Vegan Baking Boot Camp Intensive®.

For more information, www.francostigan.com

You can watch the original video version of this episode on Rouxbe.