Marisa Catalano is a graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. After graduating she worked at numerous New York restaurants and as a food stylist for Food Network and other high-end chefs. She has been teaching classes at Seasonal Cook since 2005.

Ashley East holds a culinary certificate from Cookery at Grange in Somerset, England. She has cooked at several local restaurants including The Clifton Inn and Magnolia. Ashley is the Chef/Owner of Dinner at Home Catering and has been teaching classes at Seasonal Cook since 2006.

Justin Hershey is a graduate of the Florida Culinary Institute. Growing up in a military family, Chef Hershey found a passion for the culinary arts at a young age and loved finding new foods everywhere his family traveled. During the last few years, Chef Hershey is able to proudly say he has been featured in such publications as Southern Living, Edible Blue Ridge and The Washington Post for his work as Sous Chef for Staunton Grocery and Chef of Zinc Bistro, where he is currently employed. He has also appeared on local news stations to talk about the local movement and about the animals the crew at Zinc has been raising for their menus.

Thomas Leroy, born and raised in France, has been working in the food industry for over 20 years. After studying at Bizou Restaurant here in Charlottesville, Chef Leroy traveled all over the United States from California to Minnesota to North Carolina, working as a Sous Chef, Executive Chef and Personal Chef. He finally returned to Charlottesville in 2005. In 2007, Chef Leroy was one of the founders of Zinc French Bistro.

Eleanor Porter VonAchen, co-owner of Seasonal Cook, has been in the culinary arts for 12 years. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Eleanor has a passion for Cajun and Creole cuisine as well as low country southern classics.