We’ve been teaching Denver to cook for over 25 years! We offer hands-on instruction in a casual and informal setting, and cater for all abilities in the kitchen. We boast the largest team of instructors in the Denver area, who teach a varied selection of classes – from basic cooking techniques and knife skills, to specialty workshops. Our aim is to take the intimidation out of cooking, and create a laid-back and relaxed environment, whatever your level of skill – whether you are learning how to roast your first chicken, master an intricate sauce, or poach that perfect piece of fish!
Our classes are designed to make you a better cook, thanks to clear and informative direction from our instructors and easy-to-follow recipes, and enhance your abilities and your confidence in the kitchen. Cooking is all about knowing the skills techniques used every day, in kitchens around the world, and we want to teach you these necessary techniques, so you can make your own great food going forward.
…Then when you know how to cook, we can show you what to cook!
We offer a range of classes featuring regional cuisine, speciality dishes, themed dinners and seasonal fare, as well as wine tasting evenings, Couples Nights and classes where you’ll be cooking alongside chefs at the helm of some of Denver’s best restaurants. Whether you come by yourself, or are part of a group, our classes encourage complete interaction, so you can relax and enjoy an intimate evening making good food, as well as new like-minded foodie friends.
We also hold regular private events here at the school, from corporate team building and birthday parties to cooking competitions – all with customized menus to suit your group’s needs. In the summer, we host Kid’s Camps for budding young chefs, and throughout the year, we regularly welcome school and college groups for multi-day workshops.
So, come visit us in our kitchen, whatever your culinary needs. It’s time to learn, cook, and eat…..
Meet Chef Dan
CHEF DAN WITHERSPOON IS THE OWNER, DIRECTOR AND LEAD INSTRUCTOR AT THE SEASONED CHEF COOKING SCHOOL.
A classically trained chef, specializing in French cuisine, his passion has become teaching and sharing his wealth of knowledge, and he aims to take the mystery out of the cooking process in his hands-on approach.
Chef Dan has worked his way up from apprenticeship under celebrated Belgian Chef, Henri Bergmans, to executive chef positions in Southern California and the Denver area, thus achieving well-rounded culinary skills. His specialty has been seasonal cooking: designing menus in harmony with the freshest foods available, while keeping current trends in mind. For the last 14 years, Chef Dan has been one of the preeminent culinary instructors for home cooks in the Denver Metropolitan area. He has been featured in many magazines, newspapers and on local television for his recipes, cooking tips and techniques.
Our Team
JODIE LESCHUK – Director of Marketing and Product Development
Jodie is our accomplished Director of Product Development, coordinating marketing, product development, building class calendars, increasing community involvement, and supporting our team of instructors. She came to the school as a student back in 2009 and loved it so much, that she ended up working here in 2011! A busy mom of three teenagers, Jodie is a true multi-tasker and successful businesswoman (three times named to 5280 Magazine’s Comprehensive List of the Women Leading the Front Range Culinary Scene). Jodie loves the emerging Denver food scene and she and her husband love exposing their children to different types of foods and cuisine that are now widely available around town.
Jodie’s favorite thing to cook is: Upscale finger food for parties.
More information about Jodie can be found on her LinkedIn page or on our blog.
NATASHA LOPEZ - Office Manager
Natasha is our able Office Manager. Natasha handles the day-to-day operations of the school and interfacing with customers. She coordinates bar menus, cocktail development, and partnerships with local beverage distributors. Natasha came to The Seasoned Chef in 2020 during the pandemic shutdown and was a huge asset to our Gourmet Meals to Go program. Natasha loves the local bar scene and going out on the town with her fiance! When she is not at the school, she may be found behind the bar at Sloan’s Bar and Grill in Denver. Stop in sometime to say “hello”!
Natasha’s favorite drink to make is: Oaxacan Old Fashioned.
MICHAEL O’ROURKE - Operations Manager
Chef Dan’s right-hand man for all our private events, Mike O has been involved in the culinary industry for over 30 years and is well versed in the local catering scene, and all aspects of customer service. As well as prepping and planning for all our events, doing all the heavy lifting and helping to build our portable kitchens while out on location, Mike O displays a passion for healthy eating, nutrition and wellness, and can usually be found feeding the team with his delicious home-made Paleo-inspired lunches! The saying that rings out around the school is “Mike O – don’t leave home without him!”
Mike O’s favorite thing to cook is: Chicken Piccata
KRIS GEETING - Lead Assistant
Kris joined our team 7 years ago as an assistant and helps keep our TSC kitchen running smoothly! Kris leads staffing, kitchen maintenance and management of assistants. Living in the north Denver metro, Kris is the proud mother of 4. Kris enjoys local food festivals and microbreweries.
Kris’ favorite thing to cook is: Chicken Piccata
LITSA MONSELL - Assistant
Litsa began her love of food while working in the travel/tourism industry. She and her husband Marshall ventured off to live in Greece just 10 days after they were married – and they stayed there for 12 years! While living as a local in Greece, she started as a tour guide on the island of Naxos. Two years into their Greek adventure, they decided to switch gears and owned and operated Papagalos Restaurant for the following decade. Several years ago, they moved back to the states and Litsa began assisting at TSC. More information about Litsa can be found on our Blog.
Litsa’s favorite thing to cook is: Honey and Walnut Baklava.
JESSICA TEPAS - Blogger
Jessica is an experienced writer with a goal to empower and assist businesses to grow and thrive in an otherwise cluttered marketing landscape.
For more information on her services, please visit https://semisweettooth.com.
Our Instructors
WE HAVE THE MOST EXCITING AND TALENTED LINE-UP OF INSTRUCTORS IN TOWN!
CHEF DAN WITHERSPOON - OWNER & LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Chef Dan is an award-winning, classically-trained chef whose primary passion is teaching home and recreational chefs the fundamentals needed to cook well at home. After working under acclaimed Belgian chef Henri Bergmans and leading kitchens as an executive chef in both Southern California and Colorado, Chef Dan now focuses his attention towards instruction. As the owner, director, and lead instructor at both The Seasoned Chef Cooking School and The Gourmet Spoon in Denver, Colorado, Chef Dan is widely known for taking the mystery out of the cooking process. In his 37 years of professional cooking experience and 18 years of professional teaching, Chef Dan has been consistently committed to helping students learn to simply, affordably, and quickly make a delicious and healthy meal on their own at home.
More information about Chef Dan can be found on his LinkedIn page.
Chef Dan on “Chef or Death” podcast | Chef Dan Appears on KDVR | Chef Dan Appears on Modern Eater
CHEF ANDY FLOYD
Andy is the newest chef we’ve added to our Seasoned Chef team, but he’s definitely not new to the kitchen. After growing up across England, France, Madagascar, Ohio, Morocco, Algeria, and Mexico, he landed in Washington DC, where he stayed for much of his early career. Andy speaks several languages fluently, but also learned how to cook at a young age, creating dishes such as Coq au Vin and Steak au Poivre when he was seven years old while living in Morocco.
Andy graduated from l'Academie de Cuisine's 2 year Culinary Training program and made his way to Colorado in 1990. In addition to working in many highly esteemed kitchens, Andy has always had a passion for teaching and began teaching at Culinary School of the Rockies in 1997.
More information about Chef Andy can be found on his LinkedIn page or on our blog.
CHEF DONNA MARRONE
Donna is truly an integral part of our school, having worked here for over years, and we’d really be lost without her. If you want to know where anything is, or how it works, just ask Donna! An avid food lover and passionate home cook, Donna’s knowledge is invaluable to us, and we are delighted to announce that she has just started to teach her own Italian cooking classes, using her family’s tried-and-tested recipes.
Donna’s favorite thing to cook is: Home-made Pasta.
CHEF AARIKA SILVA-ORTIZ
Celebrating over eight years in the food industry, Chef Aarika takes a fresh foods approach to multicultural cuisine. While in competion to be on the 2014 season of Master Chef, Aarika validated the path she was on to turn her passion for food into a full time career! Aarika has been a personal chef for 7 years along with working in professional kitchens, including Root Down in Denver. Aarika is currently a Chef Instructor at The Seasoned Chef Cooking School. Chef Aarika offers Fresh Meals to Go weekly delivered straight to your home and offers in-home personal chef services. To visit her website, click here.
CHEF DEVIN LAMMA
Born and raised in Virginia, food and family was central to Devin’s upbringing. As a 30-year veteran of cooking and food service, his career has taken him to Italy, France, Spain, and Antarctica. After having cured prosciutto and salami in Tuscany in 2009, his focus became cheese and he earned the title of Certified Cheese Professional in 2013. He began his career at The Seasoned Chef in 2002 as an instructor and leading culinary team building events. His classes focus on authenticity and are often influenced by his travels. Curiosity and the desire to learn has taken taken him to Europe, Africa, San Francisco and New York City to advance his knowledge. He is passionate about traveling, baseball and reading.
In addition to creating a beautiful cheese board, his favorite thing to cook is an egg and cheese sandwich.
More information about Chef Devin can be found on our blog.
PASTRY CHEF TLANEZI GUZMAN
More information to come.
CHEF TONY CARUSO
More information to come.
CHEF KEITH JONES
Chef Keith Jones, “The Champagne Chef” with the big personality, feeds all the senses while sharing twenty-three years of culinary artistry and chef’s secrets through his “Eatertainment” presentations. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Chef Keith studied under certified Master Chef, Edward Janos for eight years, learning classical French cuisine and techniques. “Edward is my mentor and I owe my culinary skills to him. He took a genuine interest in me at an early age and created the foundation that my career is based upon today.” Chef Keith was certified as an Executive Chef in December 1999 and has served at several prestigious country clubs. He has won several medals in culinary salons in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Colorado, including the grand prize in the Clos Du Bois Wine and Food Pairing competition. He keeps his participants spellbound with his unique sense of humor and wealth of culinary knowledge.
Photo Credit: http://www.chefkdj.com/