User:Cookingwithanna/sandbox

Anna Peters is an Australian celebrity Food Presenter, Writer, Teacher, Industry Consultant and mostly known for her warm smile, red lips and laugh that everyone loves. If you are looking for Anna, just stop, listen and you will know which direction. Anna’s zest for life and laugh is so infectious you just can’t resist getting to know her.

Anna is a 3rd Generation, Australian born Greek on her mother’s side and her father was born in Cyprus and migrated to Australia in the 1950’s. As you can imagine food was and still is a central focus of family life. Food and Music are Anna’s passions, (oh besides her husband Anthony!). Anna’s mother sent her to Piano and Ballet lessons as she was not sure where the lightness was, that is in her hands or her feet. Very quickly it was obvious that Ballet was not Anna’s forte. Anna continued to play piano and accomplished Grade 7 with prospective career as a Concert Pianist or Piano Teacher.

Soon Anna’s love of food, people and music culminated into a successful Career in Food and Tourism. Since 1993 Anna has taught thousands of Adults and Children in Sydney, Orange and Canberra on topics such as Authentic Mediterranean Cuisines, Patisserie and Seafood. She has hosted many Greek Cooking classes and her mother, Maria, sometimes joins the group. A class that everyone loves as Maria will show everyone her way and does let them know that Anna’s way is not how I DO THINGS. Of course, hilarity prevails and everyone forgets to keep cooking.

Anna founded and created the Brand Anna’s Cuisina (1993) which is well known and respected for handmade fruit cakes, puddings and award winning biscuits, and a host of delicious Christmas fare. Anna has experience in national distribution, exporting to Harvey Nicholls in the UK. Some of her achievements were Producing the Private Label Fruit Cake for David Jones and the preferred Fruit Cake supplier to Peter’s of Kensington, only to name a few.

In between her busy schedule, Anna contributed to the design of a purpose built industrial kitchen where business boomed. Contract manufacturing flourished and Tourism opportunities were in abundance. Anna enjoys, and is not shy, of a good chat so her Factory Tours were well attended and regularly booked out. For a short period, Anna and her husband ran a Café in Orange called Café Patissiere Anna where all the food was cooked on the premises, and enjoyed by all.

Adding to Anna’s string of delightful activities is the Cooking with Anna Website; Blogs; In the Pantry Monthly Newsletter; she has demonstrated at the Sydney Royal Easter Show; participated in Sydney Weekender; written for Super Food Ideas Magazine; Contributor to Barilla Pasta Al Dente Cooking book; Hosted her own Radio Program 107.5fm Cooking with Anna; Food Writer Central Western Daily;  Food Writer for Midstate Observer; developed recipes and products for clients, Travelled to Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and Morocco with many stories to share (ask Anna about the time she was chased in Morocco for her hand in marriage); Has travelled extensively through out Australia demonstrating products and recipes; has hosted stands at Taste Sydney and Melbourne.( this is an abridged version)

Anna’s mother is a 3rd Generation Australian Born Greek, of which her family originates form the Island, Kastellorezo (an island in the Dodecanese) an extraordinary natural cook with a keen eye for quality. As a child, Anna was fortunate to accompany  her mother on her shopping expeditions, (yes expeditions). In doing so, Anna’s knowledge of buying, storing, preparing and cooking food including the 5 senses sight, smell, taste, sound and touch which were bound by one rule – quality not quantity. Her Father was born in Cyprus and immigrated to Australia in the 1950’s with a stonemason’s trade in hand and a love of gardening. Growing up was fabulous, her father’s garden was 1/3 of the house block and he grew as many vegetables and fruits that could fit in his patch. All you had to do was stop and listen for the crunch, and there you have her father sitting on a piece of wood munching the fruits of his labor. A marriage made in heaven – a fabulous cook and gardener. Being an Australian born Greek, as you can imagine food and music plays an important contribution to the wellbeing of life inclusive of a good appetite, health, and happiness.

Anna is writing a Cook Book “ Four Greek Women – for the love of food” a memoir style cook  book centered around the four Greek women who inspired her love of food and cooking. There are a few extra titles on the menu so stay tuned. Anna is studying A Master’s Degree – Gastronomy Tourism with Le Cordon Bleu and Southern Cross University.

We asked Anna what is her favorite food: ” I love pasta and cheese. If there is cheese in the fridge and a loaf of crusty ciabatta bread, that is all it takes to keep me happy. Everywhere I have travelled cheese is my first stop. Then there is the pasta that I enjoy cooked simply, with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, fresh garden parsley and a glass of wine. I just can’t do with out my pasta”