Meet our Panelists
Cindy Walker
Cindy Walker is a eclectically trained chef, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in the natural & gourmet foods industries, where product development, nutrition, sales and marketing have been her focus. She has worked for such companies as Imagine Foods, Westbrae Natural Foods, Frontier Natural Products and Whole Foods Market.
She is former creator and owner of Gourmet Dreams, - a Northern California private chef service specializing in healthy and organic foods, and special diets.
A graduate of the UCLA Culinary Arts Program, Cindy has cooked for such celebrities as Cher, Larry Hagman, Leonard Stern, John Rogers & William Shatner, to mention only a few.
Cindy passion for cooking originates from her own special dietary needs. Born with a digestive carbohydrate disorder, she has learned to be very creative in cooking and baking healthful foods that are void of wheat, dairy and refined sugar.
When not in the kitchen, Cindy can be found practicing and teaching Yoga - her other life long passion.
Kelly Velez
Kelly Fowell Velez is a kindergarten teacher in Los Gatos, CA. She has taught for over 10 years and participates in many support roles in her school. She is currently completing her Masters Degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy.
Kelly has an 8 year old son who was diagnosed with Celiac Disease just after his second birthday. Sam exhibited many classic symptoms of the disease, but went through three months of testing before he finally being diagnosed. Frustrated by the lack of support from the medical community after diagnosis, Kelly began an online support group in affliation with Danna Korn's Raising Our Celiac Kids group (ROCK). Her goal was to prevent other families from going through the same lack of support upon diagnosis that she experienced.
The Bay Area Celiac ROCK support group was formed in 2002. The group met regularly at first, but soon grew too large for regular meetings. Kelly began an online egroup through Yahoo! where she continues to provide virtual and phone support to new and diagnosed families of children with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or subscribing to the gluten free diet (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bayareaceliacROCK/join). Our online community currently has over 130 families. We continue to be our own best resource!
Joseph Pace
Joseph Pace, owner of Risotteria in NY. Joseph's restaurant has gained the attention of national media with his fabulous GF cooking. Here are just a few of the comments from his customers:
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I had the pleasure of dining in your restaurant last night (11/3). As a gluten-intolerant person, I was overwhelmed by the choices that are on your menu. The food that was served was delicious. My husband & daughter (who are not gluten-intolerant) raved about the pizza. My only regret is that I live on Long Island and cannot enjoy your food on a daily basis. Be assured that we will return as soon as possible. Thank you. Karen I visited your restaurant Friday night; I was reduced to tears upon entering your place. For the first time in 10 years, I was able to have a pizza and beer! My son who is also a Celiac frequents your place at least once a week. I can not thank you enough; you made me feel "normal" ordering in a restaurant.
Bev
Sandy Gordon
Sandy Gordon, former private and professional chef, student of the California Culinary Academy and Celiac is a strong proponent and member of the slow food revolution. The movement was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people?s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. Slow Food at Sally's Place. An avid gardener and lover of organic foods, she hosts weekly Community Agriculture Supported Food Shares and has lobbied and created plans for community gardens in her home town.
When not cooking and working full time, this mother of three, enjoys mountain biking, hiking and practicing yoga.
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Thank you, thank you and thank you!!! We are in love with your cookies! They are the best! I live two hours away so I can only get them for my son on the rare chance that we are in the city. I am wondering if you would part with the recipe??? I am guessing not so maybe you could tell me the flour combo, then I will make it my life's work to come close the duplicating it. (hehe) Thanks again for having such wonderful GF food. We will be back.
Jena
Priscilla Elexendere
Priscilla Elexendere is a Registered Nurse from Melbourne, Australia. She completed her Masters in Pediatrics in 2002 . She has dedicated her career to pediatric care, working at the Internationally recognized Royal Children's Hospital and has cared for hundreds of children suffering from Celiac Disease. After moving to California in October 2006, she has become more involved with Celiac Care, in particular focusing on better nutrition and in turn healthier gluten free options for children suffering from the disease.
When not working full time in the nursing world, Priscilla enjoys theater, film, travel, novels and spending time with her husband and their kitten Issy.
