The culinarian couple are Kent and DJ Nielsen. They come from extensive, yet diverse food oriented backgrounds. DJ cooked on private yachts before attending The California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 91'. She graduated with high honors and received The Danielle Carlisle Walker Award, a prestigious award granted to one graduating senior. In 92' she bacame the owner and chef instructor of Cooks and Books cooking school and met Kent. A native Californian, Kent grew up acquiring a sophisticated palate. When he left home as a young adult, he had to learn to cook in order to enjoy the flavors of which he had become accustomed. Having spent 18 years in the retail food business, 15 as the produce manager for a major grocery chain, Kent has extensive knowledge of seasonality and varities of foods. Kent joined DJ teaching classes and planning culinary events. In 93' they added a retail wine shop and added Corks to the name. Their passion for wine evolved and they found their favorite wine in the world to be La Tache from Burgundy France. At Cooks and Books and Corks this couple has been teaching wine and food classes, hosting guest chefs of rare talent like Hubert Keller, Thomas Keller, Mark Miller, and Alice Waters, while educating food lovers in the pursuit of the ultimate culinary experience. In 2005 Kent and DJ sold their Danville property and moved to Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. Napa La Tache fulfills their culinary dream of sharing remarkable "spots", the world across, from their own backyard to oceans away, with their fellow food enthusiasts.
Please join us in one of our tasty events and watch the website for new additions.
We can be reached by phone at (707) 965-9409 or
E-mail to classes@cooksbookscorks.com
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