Baking for my son Ryan and his co-workers
About Me
It all started in the burbs of the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles) in the 1950’s...
...in a kitchen with one cookbook and a 7-year-old girl who wanted something more interesting to eat than a piece of fruit for her after school snack. Patsy, the oldest girl of 6 kids, was encouraged by her busy mother who really didn’t cook or bake much to read her only cookbook and explore their kitchen cabinets for ingredients. This activity not only established a life long interest in food but gave her the opportunity to discover her talent and the confidence to pursue a career in the culinary arts.
Patsy was a self-taught home cook turn professional chef at age 28. She had the rare opportunity to start her culinary career as an apprentice with what is now one of LA’s must successful catering companies, “ Someone’s in the Kitchen” SITK. She focused on desserts and honed her baking skills to pursue a very successful career as a Pastry Chef.
You may have experience Chef Patsy’s decades of experience and talent at several prominent restaurants, hotels, caterers and cooking schools in San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Chicago and Florida as an Executive Chef, Pastry Chef, Cooking Instructor, Caterer and Chef Talent for TV, special events and cruise ships such as; Sur La Table, Top of the Market/Fish Market, Ranch Valencia Resort, Pamplemousse Grill, Pacifica Del Mar, The Santa Barbara Biltmore, SITK -Someone’s in the Kitchen, PGA TOUR, Parties That Cook, Holland America Cruise Line, Del Mar Fair and her own San Diego businesses; Girlfriends Baking Company and Morning Glory Café & Bakery.
As of June 2014, Patsy joined the teaching staff at Sur La Table in La Jolla, CA where she teaches a variety of sweet and savory hands-on classes such as; Flavors of Italy Date Night to French Macarons.
Chef Patsyb Teaching an In-Home Cooking Class Party
Chef Patsy’s extensive experience in the food industry has created an expertise that is exhibited in her classes along with a passion for cooking. Teaching cooking classes and sharing her toolbox of cooking techniques is her way of “giving back! “ Chef Patsy’s mission is to inspire people to cook and/or enhance their skill level for career advancement or in the home! Nothing gives her more joy than to boost her student's confidence in their cooking skills and instill a newfound passion for food. She is currently working on filming Cooking Lesson Videos to allow her students to follow along and cook in their own kitchens. Look for the launch of these videos in all 2019.
The highlight and most rewarding experience of Chef Patsy’s career were her 18 months as the Executive Chef of the Greatest Generation Naval Museum, Veterans Outreach Program in San Diego. This was a non-profit event company who provided weekly dinner events for rehabilitating active duty veterans at the Wounded Warrior – West facilities located at Camp Pendleton and the Balboa Naval Medical Center. She provided leadership and training of the 150 volunteers, including the execution of all food events and the development and launch of the program, kitchen commissary, and the 46 ft. mobile food truck.
As of October 2018, Chef Patsy had a full-circle career change by returning to “Someone’s in the Kitchen” SITK as Executive Pastry Chef and Lead Event Kitchen Manager. It was a “going home moment” and an opportunity to work once again with her mentor, SITK’s owner, Joanne Roth-Oseary. SITK is a legendary caterer whose events have been attended by such celebrities as; Oprah, Madonna, Howie Mandel and President Obama. Chef Patsy’s “Pie Bar” created for Wayne Gretzky and his guests was a memorable experience they won’t forget!
Chef Patsy Made it to the Food Network!
"I was in it to win it and......I WON!!!"
You can catch my winning episode “Brownie Points” On Demand on Food Network!
Cooking for the Wounded Warriors as Executive Chef at Greatest Generation Naval Museum
Cooking for Wounded Warriors at the Greatest Generation Naval Museum
Published Articles, Recipes, Contributions and Awards
Featured on TSN Network, San Diego - Youtube Channel: chefpatsyb
• Chef Patsy Bentivegna Trainasium Classes
• The Talk of San Diego Visits Liberty Public Market
• How to make Apple & Harvest Crumb Pie from scratch
• How to make Red Velvet Cup Cakes from scratch
Live TV Cooking Demos: NBC News, San Diego/KPBS, San Diego, CBS Morning Show, LA, NEWS4JAX Morning Show, Jacksonville.
Featured Video: ZisBoomBah.com "Pick Chow! Across America - Taste of Chicago" (Kid’s Iron Chef Challenge)
Talent as “Guest Chef”, Holland America Line’s Culinary Center presented by Food and Wine Magazine, 2008/2009
Live TV Cooking Demos: NBC News, San Diego/KPBS, San Diego, CBS Morning Show, LA, NEWS4JAX Morning Show, Jacksonville.
Featured Video: ZisBoomBah.com "Pick Chow! Across America - Taste of Chicago" (Kid’s Iron Chef Challenge)
Talent as “Guest Chef”, Holland America Line’s Culinary Center presented by Food and Wine Magazine, 2008/2009
Featured Chef Team Leader for National Contest, 2010-2011, Recipe for Healthy Kids Challenge, Oodles of Noodles, pg 22, October 2012.
Featured Menu/Recipes: Dining by Design tabletop book by Olga Krasnoff. Published, 10/07
Featured Writer & Videos: PGATOUR.COM
• Chef Patsy’s ,5/08, Florida Gulf Shrimp Tropical SaladBoilCountry Low
THE PLAYERS Championship,2/09
• Valencia Springtime Salad, AT&T Champions Classic, 3/09
• Strawberry Fields Salad, Toshiba Classic, 3/09
• Jamaican Jerk Andouille Sausage Potato Skins, The Cap Cana Championship 3/09
• White Chocolate Georgia Peach Bread Pudding, Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, 4/09
• Beaches Shrimp Cakes, THE PLAYERS Championship, 5/09
• Pulled Pork Sliders, Regions Charity Classic, 5/09
• Tuscan Style Bruschetta, Senior PGA Championship, 5/09
• United We Serve's Golf ForeGroceries: Low-Cost Recipes, 8/09
• New England Style Crab Cakes with Lemon Tarragon Sauce, Deutsche Bank Championship, 8/09
• Garden State Vegetable Pasta Salad in a Lemon Basil Dressing, The Barclays, 8/09
• Roasted Sweet Potato and Southern Spiced Chicken Tender Salad, Wyndham Championship, 8/09
• The Champions Tour , 05/08, Chef Patsy’ Low Country Boil, 5/07, Cooking with the Funks Videos; Kitchen, 5/10
Dessert Contest Award: A winner in the San Diego
• Chocolate Lover’s Dessert Contest, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Cake.
