Jacob Cook
Culinary Arts
Jacob has spent 20 years working in professional kitchens including The Four Seasons in Scottsdale, AZ., Upward Projects in Phoenix, The Binkley group in Phoenix & Scottsdale, and Happiness Plaza Concepts here in Wichita. This past year has been dedicated to the transition to owning and operating his own business as a Food and Beverage Consultant. For the last 12 years, Cook’s time has been focused on opening new concepts, creating training curriculum, menu development and team leadership. This journey has lead him to teaching and sharing his experience with those looking to cook better tasting food with confidence.
Jamelah Kauffman
Culinary Arts
Jamelah is the owner and founder of Nourish ICT. Food is a love language for her, but Jamelah’s passion for food hasn’t always been very healthy. In fact, major health issues moved her to become more educated about food and how it was impacting her life. When Jamelah’s daughter was born, she was forced to learn gluten and dairy-free cooking. Nourish ICT was born from a passion for helping others learn how food is medicine. She has loved exploring various foodie lifestyles and exploring whole unprocessed foods. Eliminating and reducing processed chemicals can heal our bodies in ways we might never have thought. Healthy food can and should be delicious.
Annie Patel
Culinary Arts
Annie (Anisha Patel) has been sharing her passion and knowledge in the liquor industry for 12 years. Coming from a lineage of entrepreneurs, she was compelled to create her own business. After graduating from Wichita State University with her MBA, she, her brother and husband opened The Liquor Cabinet located in Northeast Wichita. She has achieved Certified Tequila Specialist and is currently pursuing the prestigious Certified Specialist of Spirits. She loves teaching individuals about the world of spirits and the differences that make each one uniquely its own. Come join Annie and grow your own knowledge in a fun environment.
Pat Pelkowski
Mixologist
Mr. Pelkowski owns and operates Shaken or Stirred Bartending. A liquor catering service which does mobile bartending and mixology classes. Pat worked in munitions maintenance upon joining the U.S.A.F. in 1983 and then cross trained to Air Traffic Control. He spent time on Anderson AFB Guam, Wright Patterson AFB Ohio and Wurtsmith AFB MI. He was honorably discharged in 1989 and was hired by the FAA as an air traffic controller.
Jamie Stratton
Wine Tastings
Jamie has been in the wine business for more than 20 years. He is currently the wine director at Jacob Liquor Exchange. In 2005, he became Wichita’s first Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators and passed the Certified Wine Educator exam in 2006. He has also passed the first of three tests in the Court of Master Sommelier Program and was accepted to and studied with the Master of Wine program in London, England.
Joe Stumpe
Culinary Arts
Joe Stumpe is a writer, musician and culinary instructor. In 2022, his book, “Iconic Eats of Wichita: Surprising History, People and Recipes” was published by American Palate, a division of The History Press. He lives in Riverside with his wife and chickens.
Nicole Williams
Culinary Arts
Nicole Williams is the founder and owner of Ncredible Edible Gourmet Sweet Treats, a local bakery named after her late brother, Nicholas, and her two sisters. Baking originally started as a hobby for Nicole, who baked to cope with her son’s autism diagnoses. Nicole’s passion for baking blossomed over the years and grew into a home-based business that allows her to continuously explore her creativity.
As a self-taught baker, Nicole has honed her skills over time and now specializes in decadent baked goods and custom-designed gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries. Her purpose is to purpose is to enhance customers’ celebratory occasions and help create memories that will last forever.
Nina Winter
Culinary Arts
Nina Winter is a holistic chef and sewing instructor. She is an advocate for slow, sustainable living and believes in holistic healing and thriving from the inside out. She is a plant-based chef who enjoys transforming vegan and vegetarian food into something spectacular and memorable. Nina believes we are all on our own sacred journey and education leads to healthy lifestyle changes. Nina often jokes she is a “slow cooker,” taking her sweet time to put extra Reiki love and care into all her dishes and never rushing the process.
Siobhán Scarry
Creative Writing
Siobhán Scarry holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana and a PhD in English from SUNY Buffalo. As an associate professor at Bethel College in Kansas, Siobhán teaches literature and creative writing, runs a visiting writers series and serves as faculty mentor to the undergraduate literary magazine YAWP!
