Shirlee Read is a long-time resident of Whidbey Island,
operating a catering business from 1986 to 2000. A search for new challenges and a love of
sharing culinary knowledge led her to open The Kitchen Door, a cooking school, in 2000.
She has taught at the South Whidbey Community School for more than ten years, and at Sur
La Table in Kirkland, mrs cooks in University Village, Third Place Books in Lake Forest
Park, and at Whistler Cooking School in Whistler, BC. Shirlee brings a love of food, a joy
for teaching and years of culinary experience to the classroom in a relaxed and
interactive style.
 Shirlee on Food: "Always get the freshest,
best ingredients available. If you do that, minimal food preparation is all that’s
needed to make a fine meal. I’m not a proponent of complicated, time-consuming
recipes. The less you handle the food and the faster you get it from market to table, the
better it will taste and the easier it is for you, the cook, to enjoy the meal with your
guests."
Shirlee on Entertaining: "I believe
in the importance of advance planning and menus with make-ahead recipes so you will be a
relaxed cook. Always try the recipes out before you make them for company—this gives
you the chance to make improvements and add your own touch to the recipe. More
importantly, it eliminates an uncertain outcome."
Shirlee on Teaching: "Teaching is a
soul-satisfying occupation for me. I get to pass on techniques that make cooking easier
and more fun, and I am able to expand people’s food horizons. Since I love
performing, I have a lot of fun doing the demonstration cooking. But the best thing about
teaching is that I am always learning too, drawing on the experiences and talents of the
class." |
