Diana Albanese comes from a family that has owned a food market in Bayonne for 75 years. She has been a private caterer and was director of La Cucina D’ana. Diana studied at the French Culinary Institute, La Technique, and recently joined the faculty of Brookdale Community College’s Creative Cooking classes.
Catherine Titus Felix, CCP
Catherine is a Principal Chef for Unilever Foods, NA, and former Food Editor of “Victorian Homes” magazine. A 1980 graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, London, Catherine has worked as a pastry chef, consultant, culinary educator and writer. She contributed the chapter on “The Wedding Breakfast” to Romantic Victorian Weddings, Then and Now and has appeared on numerous television food programs, including HGTV’s “A Christmas in Cape May with Kitty Bartholomew.”
Jackie Leischner
Jackie joined Classic Thyme in 2000 as a birthday party instructor and expanded her repertoire introducing our popular Mommy & Me/Working Parent & Me classes and summer camps. Jackie describes herself as a Mom that is comfortable in the kitchen. She credits her passion for cooking to her Italian heritage and her mother and grandmother for their inspiration. Jackie has a B.S. in Business and Economics from St. John’s University.
Eileen Rooney
A long time instructor at Classic Thyme, Eileen was instrumental in the early development of Classic Thyme's Childrens Programs. Eileen is an experienced childcare professional and works as the numerous Children's Birthday Parties and Children's classes. Her experience with children carries over to her "real life" job as Director for the preschool at the Westfield YMCA.
Leah Schneider
Leah is a childrens birthday party insturctor and adult class instructor at Classic Thyme. She received her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently studying for her Teacher's Certification. She is also a Director of the After School Program at the Westfield YMCA.
Justin Zach
As another long time member of the Classic Thyme family working with us for over 16 years,Justin has worked his way up starting as a children's birthday party assistant, eventually instructing birthday parties, assisting with adult classes and caterings and has now instructed intense teen and pre-teen summer cooking camps as well as instructing private adult cooking classes and corporate team building culinary events. Justin has a Bachelors Degree in Earth Science. He also holds an Associates Degree in Psychology. His culinary training comes by way of his apprenticeship and inhouse training at his long tenure at Classic Thyme Cooking School. With many interests and a passion serving the public, Justin is a member of a local volunteer fire squad. Justin successfully completed the Firefighter's training academy and is also a certified practicing Paramedic. With a love for all things outdoors, he enjoys hiking, camping and snowboarding.
Steven Capodicaso
Best known for his "Couples" Classes at Classic Thyme, Steven has a profilic culinary career working with companies such as the Hilton Corporation, Kings Supermarkets, Atkins Nutritionals, Pret A Manger and most recently Firmenich USA. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and recipient of their prestigious "Augie Award" for outstanding performance in product development for the retail industry.
Suzanne Zimmer Lowery
Suzanne Zimmer Lowery is a graduate of New School’s New York Restaurant School and Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. A former area pastry chef and professional cake decorator, she currently teaches at various local cooking schools. She is a contributing writer for the Star-Ledger newspaper’s “Savor” section, NJ Monthly magazine, NJ Savvy Living magazine and other regional publications. In addition, Suzanne has been a regularly appearing chef on the satellite television program, “Daily Connections.”
Daniel Rosati
Daniel Rosati is the owner of La Villa Cucina, a cooking school established in 1998, offering culinary travel programs within the Italian regions of Campania, Tuscany, Umbria and Sicily. While his expertise is regional Italian cooking, Daniel is also proficient in pastry arts and other ethnic cuisines. He has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Antonin Carême bronze medal, from the Société Des Cuisiniers De Paris, the Otto Gentsch silver medal from the Otto Gentsch Foundation and the Auguste Escoffier gold medal for outstanding achievement in the field of sugar and chocolate artistry. Daniel is currently at work on his first book, La Villa Cucina.
Arlene Ward
Arlene is a long term member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and The New York Association of Cooking Teachers, and has been a food stylist for many professional photographers and various food companies. Founder of Adventures in Cooking Culinary School in Wayne NJ, Arlene has taught culinary classes for the past 19 years at her location. She was instrumental in helping David get started with opening Classic Thyme in 1995. Arlene has been a close friend and mentor of David for many years. Arlene is the Co-Author of ‘Pressure Cooking for Everyone’ and is renowned to be one of the best culinary instructors in the area, according to many tri-state area culinary instructors.
Kathleen Sanderson Kathleen is an accomplished culinary professional with experience in all aspects of foodservice including New Product, Recipe & Menu Development, Foodservice Editorial/Advertorial Concepts and Food Styling for Print & Video. As graduate of the California Culinary Academy and founder of the Gotham Food Group, Kathleen brings a wealth of information to her cooking classes. Kathleen teaches at several cooking schools in the area in addition to her principal role for Foodservice Solutions. Classic Thyme has been fortunate to have Kathleen as an instructor since 1997.
