La Cucina
Joan Wood’s Cooking School
11900 Colleyville Dr.
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 402-1273
Email: to joancook1@sbcglobal.net

Joan Wood is a chef, freelance food writer, caterer, and cooking instructor. She has attained the level of Certified Culinary Professional and has training in all levels of food preparation, specializing in European cuisines—particularly Northern Italian. She was raised in a Northern Italian kitchen, and lived in Europe for several years, cooking in family and restaurant kitchens. She has taught children and adults at various levels of expertise for over 25 years, including classes for Adult Education in Northern Virginia, the kitchen at Dierberg’s Markets in St. Louis, MO, and at the Kitchen Conservatory in St. Louis and Belleville, IL. She conducted cooking demonstrations and classes at various Williams-Sonomas, Kitchen Bazaar, and Bloomingdale stores in the Washington, D.C. area. She taught at L’Academie de Cuisine Cooking School in Bethesda, MD for several years and in San Antonio, TX for three years. She also started a cooking school in an upscale specialty market in San Antonio, which was successful for both the cooking school and the store. In 1999 she relocated to Southlake, TX and continued to operate Joan Wood’s Cooking School in her home, as well as her catering and private chef business. She regularly traveled to San Antonio and Austin to teach at the Central Market Stores, and in April 2001 became the Cooking School Manager for the new Fort Worth Central Market open in September 2001. She relocated to Austin in February 2002, and teaches private cooking classes in her home. Until recently, She continued to teach classes at the Texas Culinary Academy, and the Central Market Cooking Schools in Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Houston. She is a trained Cuisinart specialist; has been involved in catering, party planning, private luncheons, dinners, breakfasts, brunches, and open houses for private and professional groups. In 2003 she founded the Austin Chapter of the Les Dames d’Escoffier, and served as it’s president for 1 year.