Behind the Scenes in Bay Area Restaurants
Hungry to learn what goes on behind the scenes in the eateries many of us know and love? You're in for a treat! Well known for its robust food culture, the Bay Area is home to an ever-evolving list of new restaurants and legendary favorites. We'll visit with four local restaurateurs, each successful despite the high failure rate in this tumultuous industry.
The first class takes place at OLLI HQ where we'll savor a lively interview and Q&A with the owner of an Oakland favorite. In the next three classes, we'll hit the road, touring the kitchens of and talking with the chefs and managers of popular Oakland and Berkeley restaurants:
- Week One (at OLLI): Chef-owner Chris Shepherd of Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar on Park Boulevard in Oakland’s Glenview District
- Week Two (at restaurant): Owners Jim Moore and Jennifer Sherman of Picante on 6th Street in Berkeley
- Week Three (at restaurant): in the works — details shared soon
- Week Four (at restaurant): Chef-owner Laura Meyer of Pizzeria da Laura in Berkeley’s Shattuck Square
Faculty Bio
Linda Carucci is a former California Culinary Academy dean and granddaughter of an Italian cheesemaker. She is the author of Cooking School Secrets for Real World Cooks , a finalist for James Beard and Julia Child First Book awards.
This is an In-Person Course
- Class One will meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
- Classes Two, Three and Four will meet at the restaurants
- Limited to 18 members
- Members are responsible for their own transportation to the restaurants. Members are encouraged to arrange carpools amongst themselves in the first class, if desired.
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Wednesdays — April 1, April 8, April 22 and May 6
- Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2.5 hours per session (9:30–noon)
- There are no classes on April 15 or 29
- All course materials will be available in Member Dashboards through May 31.
Member Praise for Linda Carucci
I loved the class! The demos, Linda's knowledge, very comfortable communication style, and recipe selection all worked very well for me.
Linda's enthusiasm and her love of cooking and sharing draw me in. Even though I have been cooking for decades, I learned more from her in every class!