Chef Rich
My name is Chef Rich Popovic and I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA where I began cooking at the young age of 6 years old. Growing up close to the Pittsburgh International Airport provided a wide array of Restaurants, Hotels and Country Clubs that we’re a diverse training ground for many aspiring Culinarians in the city. After completing some formal training in a high school culinary program, I attended the Prestigious Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI where I received degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Services Management.
After graduation, my career has taken me to 9 different cities in 33 years. In addition to the countless droves of everyday people whom I have had the pleasure of serving, I have cooked for political figure heads, celebrity performers and professional athletes. I am no stranger to specialty diets or cultural preferences and take pride in every dish I create.
In more recent years I have spent time teaching and developing programs at the French Culinary Institute LeNotre in Houston, TX where I held a position as the Academic Manager and Student Mentor.
My cooking classes are personal, informative and catered specifically for my student’s needs. We will discuss exactly what you’re looking for and I will provide recipes designed to address those needs. Instruction can be as serious or as fun as you would like it to be.
Classes can last between two to four hours, depending on the level of difficulty of the recipes and the desired quantity of production. The student will be responsible for providing the ingredients and the equipment necessary for each class which will be identified by me. You can expect to receive a professionally formatted recipe and a list of required tools to create your recipe. If you would rather I provide the supplies, my hourly rate of $40 applies in addition to the cost of supplies.
Teaching rates are as follows:
- $40 per hour for instruction of one student and/ or shopping for supplies. There is no charge for preparation of recipes or shopping lists.
- An additional fee of $5 per hour will be applied for each additional student added to the same instructional session. For example, two students = $45, three students = $50, etc.
- Food demonstrations and private catering are available for my same hourly rate plus cost of supplies.
My culturally diverse background and classical training make me an excellent choice as an instructor as well as my personable demeanor and patience with my students.
You will have many people to choose from in your search to learn more about food and cooking techniques, but I suggest you always lean in the direction of professional training experience. Anything short of that can easily be obtained from an internet video.
I look forward to showing you the tricks and insights I have gathered throughout my lifetime.
Blades on boards and fire on food, let’s eat!
