Marisa Churchill
Top Chef, Cookbook Author and Food Network Challenger
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San Francisco, CA, United States
Marisa Churchill
Biography
Former Top Chef competitor Marisa Churchill grew up in the kitchen, cooking with her Greek grandmother. In 1999 Marisa turned her life-long passion for cooking into a career. She graduated from the California Culinary Academy, and later continued her culinary education at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. She has worked at such notable San Francisco restaurants as Rubicon, The Slanted Door, LuLu, Yoshi's and Ame. San Francisco Chronicle's head food critic, Michael Bauer, has called her "one of the city's top pastry chefs." In addition Marisa has consulted for various restaurants and corporations, where her culinary expertise has been used for menu and product development.
In additon to being a renowned chef, Marisa is passionate about health and nutrition. She received her certification in plant based nutrition from Cornell University, and is the author of Sweet & Skinny, How to Enjoy Life's Sweeter Side Without Tipping The Scales.
Her work has been featured in numerous magazines, including: Food & Wine, People, Details, Shape, Bon Appetit, Food Arts, as well as Internationally in Elle, Real Taste, Olive, and GLOW. In 2007 she was chosen as one of the top 40 pastry chefs in the country for the Food Arts "Top 40" retreat. Marisa has appeared on Bravo's Top Chef, Food Network, View from the Bay, NBC, PBS, Good Day New York, Better t.v., Fox & Friends, Comcast, Tokyo tv, and ALTER (in Greece).
Career Highlights:
Author Sweet & Skinny (Random House/Clarkson Potter Spring 2011)
Spokesperson Truvia natural sweetener (Cargill/Coca-Cola owned product, 2009-current)
Contestant on Top Chef season 2
Regularly featured chef on the show Food Network Challenge
Winner Food Network Challenge Ice Cream Clash - sundaes
Winner Food Network Challenge Mystery Cookies - plated desserts
Winner Food Network Challenge Mystery Cookies - chocolate chip with a twist
Guest chef on PBS The Cooking Odyssey (episodes to air Feb & March 2012)
Featured chef in Food & Wine 2009 cookbook (low-fat desserts)
Featured chef Top Chef cookbook
Host of the hit 2007, 2008 & 2009 Battle of the Chefs series in San Francisco (featured on Comcast)
Chosen chef for the Macy's "Go Red" campaign (2008-2011)
Frequent guest chef on View from the Bay
Marisa Churchill
Featured Video
Current: Secrets to Staying Sweet & Skinny
Time 06:06
Marisa Churchill
Featured Keynote Programs
Health & Nutrition, Fit for Life
Marisa shares her own stories of weight struggles, and helps to educate the audience. She will teach you how to create an environment where you can make time exercise, and eat healthfully, even when you are constantly on the go. In addition, Marisa uses her education in nutrition to discuss how these changes will effect both your daily physical and mental performances.
Culinary Education & History, Chocolate 101
One of the worlds most popular sweets is further explored! Marisa walks the audience through a tasting and history of chocolate. Cocoa percentages and specialty blends have begun to appear everywhere from restaurant menus to store bought candy bars, but what does it all mean? Much like wine, chocolate has a history rich in terroir! Audiences will learn where the different types of cocoa beans come from, how their origins effect the taste of the chocolate, and what to look for when selecting chocolate.
Health & Nutrition, The "Skinny" on Sweets
As obesity and diabetes has risen, dessert has become a four letter word. Yet Marisa insists that dessert doesn't have to be a guilty pleasure. Marisa will educate the audience about how to cut the fat in baking without cutting the flavor. As 1 in 9 Americans is now pre-diabetic Marisa will talk about diabetes, natural baking alternatives, and simple ways to "enjoy life's sweeter sides without tipping the scales." Audiences will leave with Sweet & Skinny recipe cards, plus a better understanding of how sugar can both positively and negatively effect the body, and how to find moderation in the modern day diet.
Entrepreneurship & Marketing, The Story of the Little Engine That Could
In this speech Marisa motivates the audience to go for their dreams and reach their goals. Using her favorite childhood story, and an "I think I can attitude," she talks about how to break down obstacles and self doubt. Whether you have dreams of becoming an author, president of your own company, or landing that big job promotion, Marisa shares her methods for setting and attaining your personal and professional goals.
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