Ladera Times - Tspoons.com

April 2008
Ladera Times
Page 7
Tspoons Offers Unique Culinary Experience
by Christina Supe
The doors of Tspoons, a
unique culinary experience,
are now open.
Created by Thanitra
Pichedvanichok who goes
by “T,” a personal chef who
wanted to bring food and
fun together in an intimate
setting, Tspoons is an
interactive “hands-on”
cooking school located at 6
Gilly Flower in the Front
Street Business District off
Sienna Boulevard in Ladera
Ranch.
From the moment the
class titled “Romantic
Dinners for Two with Wine
Pairing” began, the eight
participants knew they were
in for a great night.
Guest Chef Daniel
Mattos assisted the two
groups of four as they
prepared Osso Buco and a
Pinot Noir demi glace,
grilled vegetables with
butternut squash puree and
tamarind sauce in homemade pastry tartlet, and an
amazing dessert of flourless
chocolate cake with coffee
cream anglaise sauce.
“T” made sure that wine
glasses were filled and that
everyone was having a
wonderful time.
The sizzle of the pans
and the aroma from the
ovens were incredible and it
wasn’t hard to truly enjoy
oneself in the beautifully
appointed working kitchen
and expert help all around!
When the meal was
ready, the participants sat
down around the stainless
steel island for a gourmet
dinner, each course served
Hands-On -- Thanitra Pichedvanichok (second from right
above) who goes by “T,” teaches a class of Front Street
business people the fine culinary art of rolling the dough
to make chorizo empanadas. They are, from left, Rod
Wilson, Sherri LeVan, Ann Wilson, and Peter Grimes. In
the photo on the right, Erica Bartman, of Ladera Ranch,
prepares ingredients for a coffee cream anglaise sauce.
with a specially chosen
wine.
Chef Mattos entertained
with a brief cooking demonstration and answered
questions that had come up
during the evening.
As the last bite was
eaten, all agreed that this
was definitely an experience
to look forward to again.
The calendar of classes
at Tspoons are taught by
different guest chefs on a
variety of topics, such as
sauces and marinades,
dinners for families, sushi,
and more.
Since each class is
limited to eight people, early
registration is a must. The
classes are for individuals,
couples, and
groups. All
classes are
hands-on
interactive, and
are excellent for
team-building
events and
group meetings.
The classes
also make
wonderfully
creative gifts for
newlyweds, for
couples celbrating anniversaries, as awards
for good work, and . . . well,
you name it.
“T” has succeeded in
creating an intimate setting
in which one can enjoy a
culinary experience while
making new friends. Cheers
to Tspoons!
For more information, go
to www.tspoons.com
April 2008
Ladera Times
Page 19
and I attended one meeting
on school boundaries.
The Board had formed a
parents’ group, which was
far too large. In fact, about
40 percent of the selected
parents left the group.
The original proposal had
been to ask Talega students
Here we are already in
financial crisis.
million. This is a moving
to travel three miles from
March, marching toward the
My leadership as a
target!!!
their home to attend school,
end of the 07-08 school
member of that board and
Superintendent Carter
completely unacceptable!
year. The high schools are
ability to bring the board
said the cuts will be
The latest plan is to keep
buzzing with Winter
majority together led that achieved as per Zero Based all Talega students at their
Formals. Academically our
district back on course to Budgeting (ZBB).
neighborhood schools.
schools in Capo Unified are financial solvency.
Savings are expected to
Similarly, a proposal to
doing great: We have three
Today I find Capo,
be achieved by increasing
have Mission Viejo students
more Distinguished Schools located in an affluent area
class sizes all over the
at Newhart Middle School
of California bringing the
of South Orange County
District (saving approxitransfer to Ladera Ranch
total number to 40 of our 56 with a growing population, is mately $7 million), laying off Middle School has been
schools. There we go
in an even more difficult
classified employees,
scrapped. The students at
teachers and students!
environment.
including about 70 bus
Newhart School in Mission
Keep it up please.
drivers and transportation
Viejo will stay there and
Financials:
But we have two major
staff, and cutting the district- attrition will happen natuI attended the January
challenges: Financials, and
level management staff
rally, as it already is –
15, 2008, special Board
Infrastructures.
positions. On February 25,
making that school smaller.
meeting and Town Hall
After Prop 13, I was a
the Board will vote on a
If I was a Trustee at
meeting on the Budget; it
Trustee of a tri-city unified
tentative budget (after this
CUSD, I would like to see a
showed the following:
School District in Los
issue has gone to press).
path to smaller class size
! The District has been
Angeles County. I came to
now as Newhart students
deficit spending since 2001, Accommodations:
office in the midst of a
are suffering for a long time.
This is another messy
except last year.
! The
situation created by the
Recall of Benecke and
Budget reserve former trustees. There is
Draper:
is about 2.06
lots of press on this issue,
The three newly-elected
percent of the
district budget.
(If it drops
below 2 perThe Ladera Times is published monthly by
cent, the State
Scholze Communications, 29851 Sienna
Parkway, Ladera Ranch, CA 92694, and is
will take over
delivered to all homes, businesses, and
control.)
apartment complexes in Ladera Ranch.
! The
Jim Schmitt ......................... Editor & Publisher
projected deficit
Christina Supe ........... Business/News Editor
Jason Scholze ............. Advertising Manager
for 2008-09,
Phone: ................................... (949) 481-3593
Fax ...................................... (949) 481-3594
with the current
Email: ......................... [email protected]
state budget and
Website .................. www.LaderaTimes.com
the enrollment
Editorial & Production Advisors:
projections, will
Anne Mack, Director of Communications
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, SJC
be about $28
June Rodgers, Chairman & CEO
million for an
Thelma E. June Rodgers, LLC, Lag. Niguel
Alex Dehesa, Creative Director
annual budget
AD Studios, Ladera Ranch
of about $400