Chef Spotlight:

Dede Trotter, Owner of Culinary Dreams

Heather: I am here today with Certified Culinarian, Dede Trotter, owner of Culinary Dreams.  Tell me, Dede, all about Culinary Dreams, and where you are located?

Dede: Thanks, Heather.  Yes, I am very excited that my dream of opening a Cooking Center is finally happening! Culinary Dreams is located at 2101-D U.S. Highway 98 in Daphne.  It is in the Fountain Square Shopping Center.  Culinary Dreams will offer a variety of Cooking Classes each month for all age groups. I will really focus on encouraging children and teens to learn to cook in a healthy way. For example, for those students heading off to college, I am planning to offer “College Survival Cooking Classes.” Another example of a class perhaps I will offer is “Impress Your Date Cooking Class.”  I want the classes to be fun, informative, and practical.

Heather: Now, Cooking Classes aren’t the only thing that Culinary Dreams is offering, right?

Dede: Oh, no, Heather.  I will be offering Cooking Birthday Parties for kids, Bridal Shower Cooking Parties, Baby Shower Cooking Parties, and something I am really looking forward to is Cooking Camps in the summer for Children and Teens.

Heather:  Will the classes be more instructional where you just lecture, or will they be “hands on” as they say, and everyone has the chance to actually cook?

Dede:  Hands on.  For kids, I have some age-appropriate and size appropriate cooking utensils.  Everyone will get to put on an apron—I’ve got kid’s-sized and adult aprons—and enjoy the class participation.

Heather:  Is there anything else distinctive about Culinary Dreams that we should know about?

Dede:  Well, I will be offering Meal Preparation each week.  I will have a rotating menu of fresh cooked meals that people can call in order and eventually go online and order.  People who place their order by Thursday of one week will be able to pick up their meal during the next week.  I will be using “Dual-Ovenable” pans, so that meals can be refrigerated or frozen, and they can then be reheated in the oven preferably or in the microwave.  I think people will like this flexibility with the pans.  Also, my goal is for the menu to be seasonal, because I want to use the freshest ingredients—that kind of leads me to you…ha.  I am so excited about this Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market because I want people to know we will be getting as many of our vegetables from local growers who are using the best growing practices possible.  Culinary Dreams is very committed to supporting our local farming community!

Heather:  That’s awesome, Dede.  I’m glad that we’ll have the chance to “work together” so to speak.  I was wondering are you going to have any retail items for sale at Culinary Dreams?

Dede:  Yes we will!  They will be things you would not typically find in other area stores.  For instance, the cooking utensils for kids I mentioned earlier will be available for sale.  I will be selling a wonderful pecan oil.  Also, I will be selling some small appliances from Breville. And, for those with gluten allergies, I will be selling gluten-free and even some egg-free bread and cake mixes from two wonderful ladies I got to know this summer who developed these mixes from their own need, since they both have Celiac Disease.  I’ll have other items for sale but this gives you an idea, I think.

Heather:  Very, very good.  How can we get in touch with you?  What is your website?

Dede:  Culinary Dreams’ phone number is 251-621-0026.  The website iswww.culinarydreamsinc.com  The website is being professionally done by some great Baldwin County folks at Bear Face Media and will be fully functional in early November of this year.

Heather:  Thank you, Dede.  We’re looking forward to having you here in Baldwin County and what you’ll be adding to this community!

Dede:  My pleasure!