We have a unique blend of instructors that together have more than 120 years of market knowledge. TSTC Culinary Institute is proud to have Chef Instructors that are very educated in unique areas of cuisine, that when combined cover a vast range of knowledge from every classic cuisine, baking, and butchery skills to modern day molecular gastronomy techniques. We also have two instructors that have a vast amount of experience in the Dining Room and Management sides of the Culinary world. Both of these instructors have experience in the corporate aspect and private aspect of the culinary side.
Sandy Davis has lived and worked in New York in the food business for the last twenty years. From Executive Dining on Wall Street to having his own catering business, and being the chef of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in the West Village, Sandy has a great deal of experience to share. Sandy is also the first champion on Food Network’s “Chopped.”
Chef Denise has been passionate about food ever since she was a young girl. Her culinary interests have led her to develop specialties in healthy cuisine, cooking with whole grains, in addition to spices, herbs and techniques from Middle Eastern, and Far East cuisines. She has owned and operated three restaurants in the Metroplex, with husband Majid Shavandy, to much acclaim: The Pegasus Restaurant, Spice International Cafe, and The Crazy Horse Café. Her restaurants have received a top ten Zagat rating, “D Best” from D Magazine, and “Hot Spot” in Texas Monthly. She has made numerous TV appearances, and participates in several charity events as a celebrity chef. After 16 years of restaurant ownership, Denise joined the Central Market team. As manager of the Central Market Cooking School, she worked with such notable chefs as Michelle Richard, Hiroko Shimbo, Peter Reinhart, Tre Wilcox, and Martin Yan. As Executive Chef for Central Market, Denise managed a team of over 100 cooks and chefs and oversaw all aspects of food production. She was involved in recipe development for Central Market and a member of the Own Brand team that tastes and tests Central Market’s Own Brand products. Throughout the years she has catered for notable events and people such as Stephen Butt, and George W Bush. She enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge with students eager to enter the industry, and with the home cook through continuing education classes at TSTC Culinary Institute. She is wife, mother of twin girls, black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and enjoys herb gardening.
For over thirty years, Majid Shavandy has had the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of Service and Hospitality industry, from fine dining to Tex-Mex. He has been a corporate trainer, manager, owner and operator of three upscale restaurants, and been involved in the gourmet grocery industry.