Wine tastings return

Chef Linda Pashcke has studied the culinary arts from Oregon to Florence, Italy and has returned to Saratoga to share her knowledge as a personal chef. She focuses on seasonal and fresh, provides nutritional breakdowns of all of her recipes and has experience with special dietary needs.

Recently obtaining her diploma from the Oregon Culinary Institute, Pashcke also has a degree in hospitality from New Mexico State University. While getting her bachelor's degree, Pashcke was able to study abroad in Italy, cooking typical food from each region of the country.

She came to Saratoga in 2001 with her family, leaving in 2004 for North Dakota. She came back to Saratoga from Oregon visiting friends recently and decided to move back. "I feel like the sky's the limit," Pashcke said. Originally from Casper, she studied nutrition at University of Wyoming.

Pashcke has recently begun working at Valley Liquor and plans are in the works for wine tastings, which are currently planned for the first Friday of each month beginning in October. "I'm going to be pairing food items that compliment each variety of wine and then play around with cocktails, maybe feature some of the new craft beers."

"The main thing people don't necessarily remember about the food industry is safety and sanitation," Pashcke said. Her personal focus is on nutrition, but she also offers in-home, private cooking lessons where she also covers knife safety and cutting techniques. She is certified by the National Restaurant Association as a Serve Safe Manager, which includes timing of storage, cross contamination and sanitation.

Pashcke looks forward to gathering a staff and hopefully beginning a catering business. For now ,because of equipment and work space, her party services are limited to small, in-home gatherings.

"If people eat well, they'll be able to enjoy life longer," Pashcke said. "And Saratoga has so much to enjoy."