A native of the Pacific Northwest I grew up with sustainably minded parents who, before I was born started building a house ‘off the grid’ in the hills of my family’s farm. My Grandfather is a farmer and ran cattle on his land, raised a few pigs, sheep and grew hay. Growing up, weekends were spent visiting the farm, playing with the resident peacock and watching my Grandpa plow or bale the field, while inside my Grandma was baking delicious handmade treats.
Upon completing high school I decided to move back East and attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. There I cooked, learned about food, drank wine, and got a fabulous culinary education, graduating in 2002 with Honors from the Culinary Arts program. I was asked to stay after graduation and complete a Graduate Teaching Fellowship where I worked under Certified Master Baker, Christophe Gaumet. Originally from Germany, Christophe has a vast knowledge of pastry and baking this was a great bonus for me, a culinary graduate, getting to learn more about pastries.
The East Coast kept me entertained for a few more years, I worked a couple more jobs from high end restaurants to a casual gourmet market. I have also attended the Cannes Film Festival a few times as the Executive Sous Chef, working for a company called the American Pavilion (working in the South of France for a month at a time… not a bad gig!).
Eventually I found my way back to the West Coast after missing the relaxing, laid back life out here. I have since settled down and in 2005 I started my own catering business, Heidi Tunnell Catering Company, in my hometown of Eugene, Oregon.
Recently my parents have purchased the family farm from my Grandparents and the one across the street as well. We now have a total of about 200 acres and plan to turn it into a large working/educational farm, raising cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, vegetables, fruit trees and even a small vineyard. In order to maintain a low profile lifestyle I will be moving my commercial kitchen out to the farm and living in a yurt right next to it.
* Note about the picture on the heading of Cooking School At Home* This picture was taken by myself on one of my journeys through France. This is at the Forville Market in Cannes, France where the fish is straight out of the water, fresh and beautiful!
