A.Chef's

Hi friends – it’s been a while, right?
I think about you all and the Studio every day over here but to be honest, I have just not had a lot to update about. If this cancer has taught me anything, it’s that I can only take each day as it comes.  That makes publishing calendars months in advance, pretty much impossible though, so I feel like I have just kind of been put on “pause” and not sure really what the next best move might be?  

So, I will do what I can and share that I am healing. And feeling really good. I did indeed rest, which I know you know is not my best skill, and learning to hone that in, stop, and recover, was in itself a full-time job. 

We have been given the “go” by all doctors to return to work on a bit of light duty beginning December of this year.  Greg and I met yesterday to hone in on what we think would be the most fun for you guys.  I’m excited about our plans.

I have one more medicine they want to test on me before we decide what the start date will be – so I’m asking for just a few more days to let my body respond to this last bit of medicine and we will go from there.   

Look for a December class lineup, as well as an open house of some kind, coming via email next week. 

While on break we did notice that our emails seem to be falling into a lot of spam and junk folders – so if you are reading this, and as a friend of the Studio, know someone else wanting information, please feel free to forward this to them and we encourage all new readers and those who have been here before, to be sure to sign up for emails on the website (www.achefs.com) and add us to your approved sender list so we don’t fade away into the dreaded files of junk.

I have some fantastic new additions to the web site coming for you in Jan 2025 and we will resume a class schedule in January that’s looking much more like our usual Wed-Sat routines. And believe me, we can’t wait. I miss you all so much.

More next week –

Much love, A and the entire Studio Team

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Hello Friends:

So, that was fun until is wasn’t!
Or, do I start with: Best Laid Plans…. Or…..ok, so here’s what. Chemo was bad. I lost August.
Greg’s entire family got Covid and were down for literally weeks. Let’s call that the worst summer ever. And move on.

Update on Greg?
‍He’s great, the family is fine and we will send a note out about when you could stop in to see the shop and say hi to Greg over the next few weeks.

Update on me?
Chemo over, surgery in a week and then I have to stay away from work for a total of about 5-6 weeks. Basically, that’s because I am insane as you all know, and I will do too much if I am there. So, I won’t be there to be insane and do too much. It’s my promise to my husband and my team of doctors.
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But, the good news?
I will be back and am told, cancer free. So let’s focus on that and get ready for some nice new offerings coming soon. I’d like to load a December and January Calendar for you all by the beginning of November – so between now and then, your prayers for healing are all we need. And, if you think about it make sure to spread the word to friends and neighbors to sign up for emails, add us to contacts and stay in touch with good old email updates.

For those who have taken the time to email, text messages, send cards and call, thank you. Your stories of surviving your own cancer journeys have been so helpful and uplifting. And, the check-ins went a long way in making me feel like I hadn’t fallen off the planet.

We are entering year 18 at The Studio and losing a few months to an unexpected illness is not fun but also, fine. Its just fine. We will come back strong and know you will all be ready to jump in on the next phase of the adventure.

Thanks everyone for your years of support and business.
More soon, Chef A, Greg, Jodi, and the team.

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We are currently not offering classes as we take time to redo our entire web page and create a new and exciting line up of home baking workshops for you!

We will be in the store as we test recipes and prepare, so feel free to stop in when you see the lights on and open sign in place.

Our current goal is to have a December calendar available on the web page by November 1^st.

We are entering our 18th year serving this amazing community! Chef Andrea’s cooking focus and style have evolved over these years, as has her own personal lifestyle.

A focus on a slower pace, and intentional living is her true calling, and she is ready to share this pace with you.

Home baking is her passion and is the perfect landing place for busy folks trying to find a few moments of peace in their own hectic lives.

Chef Andrea has always been an advocate for including breads, quick breads, and comfy baking into a balanced healthy diet.  But the commercial food industry has truly created monsters out of these foods and caused many to walk away entirely.  It is our belief that these foods are both comforting to eat and a delight to prepare but the only way is from scratch. The additive and preservative riddled version are worth walking away from.  

The homemade versions allow you and your family to bring them back into your lives and embrace the calm that comes with preparing them, while enjoying the joy that comes with eating these amazing treats.  

Cooking from scratch allows us to decide exactly what we put into our bodies.  But it also begins to form a foundation for a more intentional life.  Focused on nutrition, time in our homes, working with our hands, creating and savoring.  The phones and computers fade away as we embrace the work of kneading, mixing and the incredible scents of home baking. 

It is our purpose and goal to bring the joy of from scratch cooking to all our guests. We are happy you are here.

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I hope you’re all coping well with this intense summer heat. Hang in there with me!I wanted to share some exciting updates from the Studio, along with a personal health update that will affect our schedule.

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We have exciting new things planned for this Fall and Holiday season, and we’re looking forward to enjoying cool weather cooking again!Michael and I also want to share some health news that will impact our current schedule.

In May, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The good news is that it’s highly treatable and was caught early through screening. It hasn’t spread, and the plan is clear: I’ll undergo six rounds of chemo, followed by surgery in December during our Holiday break. The timeline is short, and I aim to finish chemo by October.

Unfortunately, this means we need to adjust our schedule. I’ve had to cancel remaining July classes and pause August classes. I apologize sincerely for any inconvenience caused. Rest assured, we plan to reschedule these classes once my schedule stabilizes. My doctors assure me that I’ll feel well enough to work, so I’m optimistic about running a full Fall schedule.

Our Studio community, built over 22 years, means everything to us. Your continued support and patience mean the world to us. If a class catches your interest, please sign up. If I’m unable to proceed as planned, we’ll reschedule.Meanwhile, Chef Greg has kindly accepted our offer to manage the retail store while the kitchen is temporarily closed. This is exciting news for all of us!

For those who have visited recently, you may have noticed some changes in the Studio – we’ve added more gift items, small production cookbooks, and lovely recipe, meal plan, and blank journals. The response has been wonderful, and we plan to expand further! We have exciting new developments planned for the store.

More new inventory is on the way, and our new shop hours will be Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.We’d love for you to drop by next month to say hello and see how things are going! I’ll be there with Greg much of the time and would love to chat! During the kitchen closure, I’ll be focusing on writing classes and updating our offerings, including exciting upgrades to our Home Chef Series.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have received a diagnosis with such a positive treatment plan. My doctors assure me that this cancer will become part of my medical history, not my future. By 2025, I expect to be cancer-free and back on track, which is our primary focus.If you have a Gift Certificate burning a hole in your pocket, don’t worry – classes are coming back sooner than you think. You can also use it to shop for items in the store! We’re excited about new product lines focusing on more gift-style items (because you deserve treats too!)Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please add us to your contacts so you won’t miss any updates from us.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @achefscookingstudio and my personal channels @aknittingchef and @journalsforbreakfast for updates on life, progress, and fun journaling and art content.

To stay connected, I’ll be adding video content to A Chef’s YouTube channel and Gumroad for subscribers. I’m eager to share some exciting new cookbooks and record a few good Cook Book Corners for you.

Thank you for many years of joy. There are more to come, and we can’t wait to get back on track and cook with you soon!

Love,Chef A and Michael