Sandra Shafer, Private Chef
Chef Sandra Alonzo Shafer lives in the Houston area where she cooks with great passion using local sustainable foods. After many years working in international transportation for a French petrochemical company, Sandra decided to change careers and pursue her chef degree at The Culinary Institute LeNotre in both Cuisine and Baking & Pastry.
In just a short period of time she has developed many skills in working in various culinary roles: at country clubs, for a prepackaged healthy meals company, as private chef for a family and performing event designs with local catering companies. But what gives her the most joy is teaching young children the art of eating healthy through summer programs for the Health Museum of Houston and the volunteer work she does for Recipe for Success Foundation at different urban elementary schools in Houston.
Sandra continues to develop her culinary skills. This past summer she traveled to France to work at a Michelin Star-rated restaurant and an artisanal pastry and bread shop with more than 40 types of flours based on regional origins. Discovering the Loire Valley and staying in the Green City of Europe, as Nantes is known, "was such an eye opener of what we can do to save our planet and is all off the beaten path from touristy France," she claims.
Most days you will find Sandra at different venues volunteering her time, including The Gaston LeNotre endowment fund, Les Dames D'escoffier, Houston Food Bank at the Keegan Kitchen, or at elementary schools assisting instructors in teaching Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ classes. She is also a member of the American Culinary Federation, World Chef's Association and Professional Chef Association Houston.
Chef Sandra's leisure activities include a large vegetable garden, where she has been experimenting on a sustainable lifestyle, riding the MS150 Houston to Austin, downhill skiing or hitting golf balls at Memorial Park.
2018 Chef of the Year
Kevin Naderi, Roost
Chefs Advisory Board
Beginning in the late 1990's Chef Monica Pope joined in Gracie's efforts to establish a group of concerned chefs who were willing to get involved in a hands on way to teach kids to cook. Twenty-four answered the call and in 2006, we established our Chefs Advisory Board, a working committee with Monica as its Chair. Through the years, more and more chefs have joined our founding members, and today we have over 100 members in Houston and across the country. Monica Pope continues to lead the team as Chair Emeritus.
These busy professionals donate their time month after month, year after year, bringing their unique insight and perspective of food to the children, turning on their taste buds and opening their minds to new foods. It's a Recipe for Success! Would you like to join us? Drop Paris an email and get started today!
The Foundation's Chefs Advisory Board served as inspiration for the White House campaign for Chefs Move to School! Six members of our Chefs Advisory Board joined members of our Board of Directors at the White House in June 2010 for the kick-off of Chefs Move to Schools! where Recipe for Success was featured as a national model and resource. See pictures here. And read about the trip here and here.