Recipe for success:

Build one of the top catering companies in Canada.

Mix in active involvement in education and industry volunteering.

Bring to a boil with a desire for excellence and a passion for food.

Season with numerous catering and community awards.

Simmer for 20 years and what do you get?

Seasoned Solutions with Gail Hall!

CULINARY TOUR UPDATE
San Francisco
May 20 to 24, 2010:
It's off to San Francisco to discover the culinary riches of this famous city by the bay. Markets, producers, food retailers, bakeries, wine tours and much much more will be explored and enjoyed. Just click here on San Francisco for itinerary, cost and registration details.

Sicily
October 9 to 20, 2010
Ever since her successful culinary tour to Italy in 2002 (Asti, Parma and northern Tuscany), Gail has longed to return to this country that is so rich in food culture and food traditions. Siciliy is a history lesson on a plate and to understand it, one must immerse themselves in its cuisine. Come and join Gail for a culinary tour that will be fascinating, delicious and paradoxical. Click here on Sicily for itinerary, cost and registration details. Right after this tour Gail will be attending Slow Food International's Terra Madre & the Salone del Gusto in Turin, Italy, and you also have the option of signing up for this culinary experience as well!

New culinary tours are being planned for 2011:
Chile and Argentina, 2 weeks in Feb/March 2011
Eastern Townships of Quebec in October 2011
Details on these new tours will be posted under the culinary tour section by the spring of 2010.

LOFT COOKING CLASSES:
The cooking class schedule for 2010 is up on the website. Just click on cooking school. These are hands-on cooking classes using local and regional ingredients and are filling up quickly. So, if you see a class on the list for 2010 that you would like to take, e-mail Gail at gailhall@shaw.ca or call 780-437-0761. Class registration is confirmed on a first paid basis. Private cooking classes for groups of eight can also be arranged.

Need a unique gift for a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion? Purchase a gift certificate for a loft cooking class. It's easy to arrange. Click on gift certificates for information on how to arrange a gift certificate.

GAIL ON LOCATION:
Cooking at Planet Organic on January 14, 2010, southside location at 7917 104th Street.
As part of Planet Organic's Local Food Festival, Gail will continue to present two cooking demonstrations from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and 5:00 to 6:00 pm at the Strathcona southside location, featuring healthy foods for the New Year.

Cooking in the Mountains January 23, 2010 is a special intimate culinary experience at the newest, most noteworthy vacation project in Fairmont Hot Springs, The Residences at Fairmont Ridge. Cooking in the Mountains, hosted by Marble Canyon Developments is offering, foodies and/or Fairmont explorers the chance to experience some of Gail's newest recipes. From 6:30pm to 9:30pm, Gail will create one-of-a-kind dishes, using local ingredients. The experience will allow guests to cook along-side Gail, ask questions, sample wine from Cedar Creek Winery or simply watch and enjoy the fun in the kitchen! Tickets are $67 per person and include all food and wine for the evening. Only 20 tickets are available. To purchase tickets and/or book a Discovery Trip that includes accommodation at The Residences at Fairmont Ridgestay, contact info@fairmontridge.ca.

Listen to Gail every Tuesday morning at 7:50 am on CBC 740 am/93.9 fm, as CBC's weekly food columnist. Recipes are easy to prepare, feature local and regional ingredients and where to buy them. January features warm and comforting soups.

Catch Gail cooking on City TV's Breakfast TV at 9:30am every second Thursday. Watch Gail in the new year starting January 14, 2010.

Gail conitnues to teach demonostration cooking classes at Metro Continuing Education.
Scrumptious Brunches on March 17, 2010 is open for registration.The class is held at Harry Ainlay School from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. For more information and to register, go on line to www.metrocontinuingeducation.ca

Gail is also cooking up a storm at Hendrix at 14515 - 118 Avenue. Scheduled classes are:
January 20 or 28, 2010 -- One Meal Four Ways with Sherry Horvath of Sunshine Organics.
April 10, 2010 -- Salads and Dressings with Patti Milligan of Lola Canola Honey.
Go to www.hcbfoodequipment.com for more information and to register.

Check out our corporate cooking classes (something wonderful happens when colleagues experience team-building away from the office environment) or book Gail for a speaking engagement or lunch and learn. In the August, Gail presented workshops and cooking demonstrations on eating well and eating local for Healthy Choices in Bonnyville.