PRESS KIT Gary Jenanyan, Executive Chef Great Chefs at Robert Mondavi Winery A California native, Gary Jenanyan has been cooking in the Napa Valley for more than 25 years. A noted restaurant consultant, chef, instructor and designer, Mr. Jenanyan has enjoyed the rare privilege of working with the most influential chefs of this era. As Executive Chef of the Great Chefs Program at Robert Mondavi Winery since 1986, he has worked with many of France's three-star chefs, including Jean Troisgros, Paul Bocuse, Joel Robuchon, Marc Meneau, Alain Chapel, Georges Blanc & Pierre Gagnaire. He has also worked with many noted American chefs. Jenanyan has received considerable acclaim for his own cuisine in San Francisco, Sacramento and Napa Valley, as well as national and international press from his travel to Japan, Europe and Mexico. With the sensibility and experience of a working chef, his culinary consulting and design firm designs restaurant, winery and home kitchens, troubleshoots food service operations and develops menus and recipes for a variety of clients. In 1994, he completed work as Executive Chef and food stylist on the 13-part PBS television series, "America's Rising Star Chefs" and authored its companion cookbook. He served as the Culinary Chair for the Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1996 and1997, the largest event of its kind in the world, conceiving and managing all aspects of the sit-down dinners for 2000 guests. These events raised over $2.1 million for local healthcare in 1996 and $3.2 million in 1997. As a chef-instructor, Mr. Jenanyan sits on several advisory boards of California culinary programs. His culinary education started at a very early age standing next to his grandfather, who was a cook and a butcher, and his mother, who inspired Jenanyan to cook professionally. He describes his evolved cooking style as refined, no-nonsense and tasty. His cooking is grounded solidly in French technique with an emphasis on local, regional products and a focus on flavors that are in harmony with the best of California wines. Gary lives with his wife Julie, a wine writer, and son Sam in Yountville in the heart of the Napa Valley. He is an avid reader, traveler and computer enthusiast and is, of course, a fan of California wines. When he is not cooking, you may find him indulging in his other passion--flying airplanes.
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- or -	Jim Melban California Cling Peach Board 559.595.1425 jim@tabcomp.com