Program Summary Worth Our Weight

Changing Diets Changes Lives

Evelyn's love of food has roots well into her Bay Area childhood. Describing herself as having had a privileged upbringing, Evelyn recounted an early restaurant exchange between herself and her mother: "What's that green sauce on the spaghetti? I want that!"

Not being a fan of tomato based marinara, Evelyn was informed by her mother that her envied green was pesto, and poof, Evelyn became a devotee of basil. Following formal training in culinary school, Evelyn's cuisine genius was recognized and appreciated by celebrities including Barbara Streisand and William Hurt. Where does one go after cooking for the stars? Evelyn's passion for fine food took on hunger for self-esteem and independence.

Evelyn was recruited as a volunteer to contribute to the maturity of troubled youth (boys) in Sonoma County, following her retirement. Now nearly ten years later, Evelyn's signature entree is known locally as Worth Our Weight aka WOW, an opportunity for youth, to change their relationship with food. With over 500 graduates in nine years, WOW has grown beyond the detention center and currently is located at 1021 Hahman Avenue near Montgomery Village and serves renown meals customers wait weeks in advance to reserve and enjoy.

In addition to their restaurant, participants may quality to reside next door and cultivate live ingredients for the menu. Sometimes, Evelyn reported, the tomatoes and peaches are completely consumed in test kitchen conditions. Participants confide that they "can no longer eat that xxxx" referring to their previous fast food diet. With early support from Sonoma County Slow Food, Evelyn's efforts and vision took root and stories of success in transforming failure to launch into orbits of creative, productive careers are her ongoing legacy.

The average duratiion of Worth Our Weigh's orientation is 18 months, the same as Santa Rosa Junior College's Culinary Arts program. "Be early, be the favorite" Evelyn advises the "kids" as she prefers to call participants. Evelyn does not like to use the words teach or learn: "Our aim is not to become chefs: It is to change people's relationship with food; it is a hands on experience." The skills gained are acquired through meal planning, organizing labor, cooking and serving people food. The proof as they say is in the pudding, and it is indeed savory and sweet. Taste for yourself, visit Worth Our Weight's web site at www.worthourweight.org. Reserve your table early, Bon Appetite!!