About Us
Who We Are
We have a brand new name, Sweetwater Cooking, and an exciting new location near Station Square. Originally Sewickley Cooking Studio, under our old name of The School of Culinary Arts (PA), a division of Sewickley Culinary, has been active in the Sewickley area since 1994. We have taught in various kitchens including Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley and Carol Leone's over the bridge in Coraopolis, as well as private homes. We have also provided a number of select catering services in the area.
Our History
Originally our cooking school was an offshoot of the famed "Peter Kumps" in New York City. Peter Kump was well known as the prodigy of James Beard and his school was generally regarded as one of the most prestigious cooking schools in the USA. Having run Peters school for a number of years we first opened the satellite "Peter Kumps" school in Northern New Jersey, which was fully owned and operated by us. In 1994 we moved to Sewickley and again launched a satellite school. Unfortunately, Peter's untimely death, coupled with our failed attempt to purchase the other Peter Kumps Cooking schools, lead to the renaming of our school to SCA(PA). Today the famed New York school has changed it's name to The Institute of Culinary Education and is a frequent advertiser on Food TV. However, we believe that the Peter's philosophy of avocational cooking education to professional standards is alive and well at our school. most of all, we have fun!
Our Director
Gaynor Grant
Gaynor started her culinary training in 1973 when she majored in “Hotel and Catering” at Portsmouth University in the UK. However, it wasn’t until arriving in the USA in 1981 that she started to hit her stride. She enrolled in the professional program at the famed “Peter Kumps New York Cooking School”, now called the “International Culinary” on Food TV. At the time, Peter Kumps School was viewed as one of the most prestigious cooking academies in the USA. Peter Kump himself was well known as the prodigy of James Beard. On graduating the program, Peter, who was impressed with Gaynor’s cooking ability and infectious energy, invited her to become a teacher at his school. Within a matter of years, Gaynor had become the director of the school and became indispensable in running the operation and assisting Peter in the set up of the “James Beard Foundation”. During this time Gaynor also developed and tested recipes for numerous cookbooks, as well as catering a number of prestigious events in the New York Area.
In 1987 after the birth of Andrew, Gaynor’s first child, she decided that the long hours and commuting to New York City were no longer feasible. In order to “keep her”, Peter offered Gaynor the rights to the Peter Kump name and asked her to set up a school near her home in New Jersey. The New Jersey satellite was the first for Peter Kumps School and Gaynor owned and operated it successfully as the center for Culinary Education and gourmet catering in Northern New Jersey until she moved to Sewickley in 1994
On arriving in Sewickley, Gaynor set about establishing a Peter Kumps satellite in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Peters untimely death, coupled with new ownership of the New York school, lead to the renaming of the operation. Gaynor has continued both teaching, and selective catering, utilizing various local commercial kitchens. The hallmark of her catering is exquisitely fine food with an absolute attention to detail.
Gaynor has been a member of the International Association of Cooking Professionals since 1981 and has taken courses with celebrity chefs throughout Europe. She has catered for aristocracy, pop stars, movie moguls, captains of Wall Street, TV personalities, authors, professional sportspeople, and many others. She lives in Sewickley with her husband, Dan and her three children, Andy, Alex, Megan and Dougall the Skye terrier.
Regards,
Gaynor