Selected columns from the past two months:
After a stellar career in corporate management, Bea Beasley set out to make her part-time avocation her full-time vocation
Beasley’s culinary career began with her graduation from the distinguished California Culinary Academy in San Francisco at the top of her class. Soon after, she traveled the country as chef and events manager on Chateau St. Jean Winery’s elegant private railcars. She has become a sought-after culinary consultant, guest chef instructor, and caterer locally and nationally.
Bea Beasley & Company, her catering, consulting and event management firm produces events that feature the cuisines and culinary traditions of many nations, as well as most regions of the United States. Her mastery of the grill led to BB’s Global Barbecues, a specialty division of her catering service, featuring international and American regional barbecue menus.
Known for her versatility in preparing some of the world’s most sought-after culinary pleasures, Bea specializes in what she refers to as “soulful global cuisine.” Her expertise in creating authentic and adapted dishes from nearly every continent contributed to her receiving the America’s Top Black Chef Award. On two occasions, Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida honored her as featured chef.
Bea is an adjunct chef instructor in the Culinary Arts Department at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California. She also shares her love of teaching at her test kitchen and culinary classroom where she conducts cooking classes, workshops and recipe tests. In addition to her wide-ranging expertise and versatility, Bea has an extensive library consisting of over 3,000 culinary books.
In addition to contributing to 50+Fabulous as the Culinary Expert, Beasley has been featured on the nationally syndicated TV Food Network, on radio and in newspapers and magazine including the Press Democrat, Sonoma Business, Wine Country, Practical Winery & Vineyard, Catering Today, Food Arts, The Good Life, American Visions and Santa Rosa magazines. Beasley maintains headquarters in Sonoma County in the heart of California’s world-renowned wine country.
Check out Bea's Cooking Classes!
Bea’s Columns
Not just one, but FOUR fabulous sauces for chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, cheese, pasta, polenta, etc.!! YUM! More...
Here is a good reason to love truffles AND a fabulous recipe so you can make your own! More...
A treasury of fabulous cooking tips from our culinary professional, Bea Beasley, and her fellow foodies! More...
Try some of my favorite nifty kitchen aids that will make your cooking easier and more enjoyable. And, I invite you to join me in one of my winter classes too! More...
Get cozy and warm up and satisfy your cravings with recipes of hearty foods, like vegetable soups and chowders or curries and stews…like these! More...
Don't miss the opportunity to sign up for one of my fun classes this winter. They make great gifts too! More...
Want a fresh, fun idea for a “friends night in” on Halloween or any other night this winter? More...
How to create a visual feast! More...
Want to learn something that will delight your friends and family? More...
It's difficult to think of a more pleasurable time for eating than summer! Bea shares a scrumptious recipe and a special announcement! More...
Try experimenting with tapas, an inexpensive and fun way to embrace the flavors of the season. More...
Restaurants out of the question right now? I bet you have everything you need to eat out for pennies…here’s how! More...
The perfect Spring menu and recipes from Bea Beasley! More...
Bea gives us the inside scoop on the controversial seafood industry. What should we eat? How can we find out? More...
Turn to the “ancients” to get a younger, healthier, and thinner you! Here’s how! More...
Save some money! Chai is not hard to make yourself. Bea gives us her own secret recipe! More...
Thankfully, Bea gives us some delicious and easy recipes for those cozy, comfort foods that we crave in the winter season. More...
With the brisk Fall days and the anxiety throughout the world right now, Bea takes us back to basic (and delicious) comfort with a twist. More...
Did you know that a pumpkin is actually a fruit, not a vegetable? Bea gives us the run-down on winter squashes and fabulous and delicious ways to use them. More...
Bea shares a Fabulous and fun salad that is perfect for sharing with your Grands! More...
Bursting with nutrients and fabulous flavor, vibrant produce can form a delicious basis for many dishes and get-togethers. Refreshing summer meals need little or no cooking, are perfect for fuss-free preparation and rejuvenate the body and spirit! More...
It’s summer and that means it’s time to start chilling more than chardonnay. With the arrival of warmer weather, cool concoctions make for excellent summer fare. Some of my favorites are quick and easy-to-make. More...
Bea shares some great new ways to enjoy this season's sumptuous fruits. More...
What is the seasonal, edible perennial most closely associated with the arrival of spring? More...
I made a culinary discovery, quite by accident, while researching the foods of Greece and its islands. More...
Winter never tasted SO good! More...
Persimmons and Pomegranates. These delicious fall pleasures raise some questions: what to look for at the market, how to eat, and how to prepare? More...
It's difficult to think of a more pleasurable time for eating than summer! More...
A picnic evokes leisure time and enjoyment of the outdoors. Here are several tips for packing your next picnic. More...
Recipes for some of my favorite spice blends! More...
Intriguing spice mixtures with diverse uses and recipes. More...
Micro Greens with Thyme-Roasted Walnuts, Goat Cheese, and Mango. More...
Would you cook more if you had better knife skills? More...
All about nutritious, delicious, and versatile rice! More...
Good-for-you recipes to help you pave the way to a healthier you! More...
You’ve decided to throw a fabulous holiday party? Not to worry. More...
Try some of my favorite nifty kitchen aids that will make your cooking easier and more enjoyable More...
Did you know that a succulent, ripe fig is not only full of flavor, but surpasses most other fruits in its fiber, mineral and nutrient content. More...
I love the casual elegance of catering summer events! So how do we beat the heat yet keep it simple and fun with a pinch of panache? More...
Refreshing summer meals need little or no cooking, are perfect for fuss-free preparation and rejuvenate the body and spirit! More...
I have a passion for good food - its flavor, colors, the sensuality of its smell and texture. I love cooking it, reading about it, and I particularly enjoy sharing my knowledge of it. More...