Pascal Dionot--Executive Director/Chef

Chef Pascal Dionot has more than 30 years experience in Hotel & Restaurant management and culinary education.  European trained with a degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Hotelfachschule Speiser, Germany.  His distinguished background includes Executive Chef positions at several notable Washington, D.C. fine dining restaurants; including the historic Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington DC. Pascal developed and taught the professional culinary program at l’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland for eighteen years.

Leslie Christiansen--Instructor

Leslie Christiansen is a graduate of the first full-time program at Classic Cooking Academy. In 2007, she participated in the publication of the award winning cookbook, "Tastes and Treasures: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona."  She has been a teacher at the school for 2 years and is currently assisting with the Full-time program and the 24-week Practical Series.

Harrison Watchman--Instructor

Harrison is our most recent staff employee bringing along a vast background in the Culinary Arts and Education. Harrison has received an Associates Degree from the Art Institute of Phoenix and a Bachelors IAS Degree from ASU. In addition and after eight years of service, Harrison received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines. Raised in Window Rock, Arizona, Harrison has been an active volunteer valley-wide and continues to work as a mentor to the Native American Community.