Michael Savino, Michael's Cookie Jar

Michael Savino, Michael's Cookie Jar

Michael is a professionally trained pastry chef with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. His real education, however, took place during his 13 year tenure with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. After working with some of the finest culinary professionals in hospitality, Michael heard his calling to start his own business.

From the time he was a child, and throughout his career, Michael had a special place in his heart for cookies. These bite-sized morsels seemed, in Michael's words, to be poetry in food, seemingly simple in their brevity but complex and satisfying in actuality. Every culture of the world has its own sweet morsels and this universality seemed the perfect reason to focus his attention on cookies.

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? Get in touch 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.