We are proud to introduce to you the newest additons to our staff, the Chefs of St. Louis. We are proud to have them on our team! Below is a picture of each Chef as well as a little bio on them. If you see them around school, make sure you stop by and say hello.
Monica Watson-Chef, Saul Mirowitz Day School
Chef Monica Watson
My name is Monica Watson. I am married and a mother to 3 kids and a dog! Our family relocated from Chicago six years ago. I have a degree in Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts. After graduating I began working in catering at Swissotel in Chicago. I soon became a stay at home mom and continued to cater small parties and start a small gift basket business called Thoughtful Creations. More recently, I’ve return to the industry I love, this time with a passion for kids! This passion is personal for me because I have a child who struggled for years with “food” making him sick. Our painful journey led us to the importance of eating whole, organic and healthy food! Previously, I was working with a foodservice company that provides meals for the elementary children in St. Louis Public schools. This proved difficult for me given all I had learned about the negative effects children can experience from consuming processed foods. I knew it was food that I would not feed my own kids. Then I found Bistro Kids! Their philosophy and passion for feeding and teaching kids to eat healthy matches mine, and those found at SMDS-RJA!
Brandi Childress – Chef, Forsyth School
Chef Brandi Childress
Brandi Childress has been around food and cooking her whole life. The youngest of 5 kids she was always hanging around the kitchen with her mother and grandmother. Cooking was not only an essential part of everyday life, but also a strong bonding experience with family and friends. She moved to St Louis in 2002 and started working in local restaurants. In 2008, she received her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from L Ecole Cuninaire. She just recently joined Bistro Kids and is so happy to finally work with a growing company who has a vision. It’s such a breath of fresh air for her to finally cook with a purpose and have fun doing it at Forsyth!!
Matt Kern – Chef, Forsyth School
Chef Matt Kern
St. Louis native, Matthew Kern, studied at Forest Park and received his Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. His passion for food comes from his parents, who always seem to be in the kitchen or in the garden. He is inspired by fresh tastes and ideas of simplicity, and believes in using local ingredients when available. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to provide Forsyth children with healthy, nutritious meals every day.
Stephanie Jansing – Culinary Class Instructor (CCI)
Chef Stephanie Jansing
Stephanie Jansing has always had a unique relationship with food – from screaming out various types of breakfast foods while learning to ski in elementary school to getting crazy looks from her roommate when she picked up the habit of shredding carrots into her morning oatmeal in college. Stephanie eventually became a Registered Dietitian through her time spent at Saint Louis University, and in the process fell further in love with food. Stephanie has a passion for active living and anything outdoors, and therefore understands the importance of fueling the body with nutritious and fresh foods. She especially loves creating colorful dishes that are fun to eat, healthy, and good for the earth. Stephanie is honored and thrilled to be a part of Bistro Kids’ program!
We’ve just released the schedule for the Summer cooking camps. You can see all the information at our Bistro Kids website, 
