If you ask Ruth Klahsen, owner and lead cheesemaker at Monforte Dairy, how she got into making cheese, she’ll tell you, in that self-deprecating way she has: “I’m just an old broad who had a mid-life crisis!”
The real story is that Ruth is living proof of how an individual can have a transformative effect on local food systems. A graduate of the inaugural class of ’83 at Stratford Chefs School and a professional chef for 25 years, she embarked on an adventure that would see her become one of Canada’s most celebrated cheese makers.
Last Call: Job Fair February 3 | ’20 Class Kitchen Bash March 6 | ICYMI: ‘Pass the Salt’ now streaming on CBC Gem | Open Kitchen 4 Class Passes & more…
In our Weekly Update: Don’t Miss our CBC TV Debut in Pass the Salt: World Premiere January 17 | Save the Date: SCS Kitchen Party March 6 | March Break Explorer Course | Spring-Summer Open Kitchen Classes & more!
Merry Christmas From SCS | Alumnus Chef Ryan O’Donnell’s Holiday Recipes for you | Friends & Family Offer for early January Dinners – Book Soon!
Chef in Residence Feature | Hanukkah Party this Sunday, Dec 15! | Spring-Summer 2020 Open Kitchen Classes | Events, Promotions, Gift Ideas, and more!
I grew up in a household full of good food, a love for travel and great books. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with some facet of food. Through my time at SCS I developed a strong culinary repertoire and a curiosity for international cuisine. My career has allowed me to travel the world learning from chefs, street and market vendors, and I’ve made friends along the way. I’ve always enjoyed the continued learning that comes with being a chef, so deciding to transition to the world of culinary teaching is an exciting next step in my career.
Enjoy this Chilled Cucumber Gazpacho with Crème Fraiche on a hot summer day!
I always knew I wanted to own my own business. One of my early jobs was working in a small café in Stratford, where I grew up. I worked there before and after school throughout high school and fell in love with cooking and decided this was the direction I would go. After working in numerous restaurants in Stratford and attending Stratford Chefs School, I traveled to the west coast to work at the Sooke Harbour House where my passion for creating menus and thinking outside of the box flourished…
I began working in kitchens as a young teenager, my first job being a dishwasher in Bryan Steele’s kitchen at The Old Prune. It was my experience at The Old Prune that opened my mind to what exceptionally prepared food tastes like, and the power great cuisine can have on evoking emotion. Steele is a chef that inspires beyond precise culinary skill. He encourages awareness of the big picture…
Chef Cameron Stauch (SCS Class of 1999) recommends this recipe as an intro to his book “Vegetarian Viet Nam”. It’s bursting with fresh herbal flavours, crunchy textures and a sweet chili dressing. Most of the ingredients can be found at major grocers (Vietnamese coriander may require a trip to Chinatown)…
Well friends, our school year has come to a close.
As we’re all preparing for our next adventures, I want to offer a little support to our first-year friends going into their apprenticeships…
Try this recipe from Chef Mike Booth, SCS Alumnus, SCS Instructor and Sous Chef at The Prune.