Contributing Writers

Tastebud magazine is proud of the team of local professionals writing articles each month. The helpful information they will pass along is a resource we hope our readers appreciate and learn from. Our goal is for readers to dog-ear the pages, clip the recipes, and tear out articles about places you want to visit. Here are the contributing writers that make tastebud possible:

Jenny Vergara is a full time Foodie and a woman on a quest to develop her palate and herself through cooking, eating, drinking, traveling and writing. She has spent the last 5 years documenting all the restaurants she found along the way in a series of personal restaurant journals she keeps for her own enjoyment. Email her at tablehopping@gmail.com or keep up with her Foodie adventures at www.makingafoodie.com.

Nichole Burnett, MS, RD, LD is the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent at the KSU Research & Extension, Johnson County Office. You can contact her at Nichole.Burnett@jocogov.org.

Diana Endicott, Farm to Market Coordinator, started Good Natured Family Farms with her husband, Gary, in 1995. She began selling tomatoes and discovered how difficult it was for small family farms to find markets. As a result, she set out to organize small family farmers and market their products under the Good Natured Family Farms brand. GNFF products can be found at area Hen House Markets.

Maureen Fitzsimmons is an avid cookbook collector with a keen interest for food and cooking. A pharmacist by trade, Maureen utilizes the science and alchemy of ingredients in her cooking as well as the enjoyment of seasonal foods. You can contact her at reenfitz@gmail.com.

Alan Hagedorn works at Royal Liquors in Kansas City. He is the only retail wine merchant to have certification from both Court of Master Sommelier and the Society of Wine Educators. He can be reached at 816-942-8888.

Michael Kricsfeld is an event planner and designer, most recently with Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions, a full-service custom caterer located in the Brookside neighborhood. See examples of their work and get additional information at www.InspiredOccasionsKC.com. He can be reached at 816-444-8372 or by email at michael@inspiredoccasionskc.com

Kelly Gibbens, our Cheese Wiz, can be found at The Better Cheddar on The Country Club Plaza at 604 W 48th Street, or at the Prairie Village location at 71st Street and Mission Road. Also check out the website at www.thebettercheddar.com for new product information and upcoming events.

Jason Burton is the Sr. Brand Manager for Houlihan's Specialty Restaurants. Jason writes for several national and regional food and beverage publications. He is a research nut and loves experimenting with his blender, juicer or ice cream maker. If it's drinkable, Jason will try it. His son, Cooper, is first in line to try most of his drinks.

Nancy O' Connor M.S. Ed. is an author, nutrition educator, and cooking instructor. She is the Director of Education and Outreach for Community Mercantile Cooperative Grocery in Lawrence, Kansas. She lives in the country outside Lawrence with her husband and two sons. You can reach Nancy at cmef@themerc.coop.

Chef Mark Mollentine studied and worked in Dallas before returning home to Kansas City. He is the chef / owner of the historic Governor's Meeting House Restaurant, located in Shawnee, KS. (913) 631-2661 More information is available online at: www.GovernorsMeetingHouse.com

Patty Santee AIFD and her husband Gary own Santee Floral Designs. Patty is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers and serves as a Trustee of the AIFD Foundation. She has designed flowers for two Presidential Inaugurations, the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty, and other local and national events. Santee Floral Designs may be reached at (913) 642-7800 or their website www.flowerskc.com.

The American Culinary Federation Greater Kansas City Chefs' Association has a combined membership of over 500 professional chefs, apprentices, and purveyor members, and is one of the largest ACF chapters in the country. Its goal is to make a positive difference for culinarians through education, apprenticeship, and certification, while creating a fraternal bond of respect and integrity among culinarians everywhere.

Jill Grunewald McLaughlin is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City and is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. She has a private health conseling practice, with specialized knowledge in weight loss, women's health, osteoporosis, hypoglycemia and diabetes, energy issues, and acidic conditions. You can learn more about her approach at www.healthfulelements.com and you can reach her at jill@healthfulelements.com.

Neil Salkind is finishing a teaching career at the University of Kansas and loves reading, cooking, reading about cooking, Masters swimming and old things (like old Volvos). He also works as a literary agent for StudioB and The Salkind Agency.

Heather Coones owns Botanica Event Floral Design. You can reach her at 913-208-8956 or on the web at www.designbotanica.blogspot.com

Erin Reynolds is the pastry chef/owner of Dolce Baking Company in Prairie Village, Kansas. She and her small team produce gourmet, from-scratch pastries daily. The best cinnamon rolls in town, scones, cookies, tarts, cupcakes, special occasion cakes, and wedding cakes are just a few of the treats you will find at Dolce. Contact her at erin@dolcebakingco.com ~ 913.236.4411 or stop by at 6974 mission road, prairie village.

Chris Stenger is a an avid homebrewer and a member of both the Kansas City Bier Meisters and The Lawrence Brewers Guild. In addition to craft beer, Chris loves to cook, travel, and hang out with his wife and two dogs. hoptalk@gmail.com