Blandine Mazéran moved from France to Colorado Springs in 2008, and she’s been sharing the art of French cooking ever since.

You may have known her as the personal chef of Chez Blandine, or as the owner and chef of Wholly Crêpe. But today, she’s recognized by a different title: Blandine Mazéran of The French Kitchen culinary center — the woman uniting families around the dinner table with the art of French cuisine.

As a single mother of three teen girls, Blandine fully understands the hustle and bustle of daily life. That’s why she’ll give you recipes that are quick, easy, and doable in large quantities.

If you are looking for professional chefs’ techniques, credentials, or professional material, this is not the place. There are some great cooking schools out there, and Blandine is ``just`` self-taught. But if you are looking for a great place to learn and share the art of French cooking, then Blandine’s kitchen awaits!

Her promise to you:

- Detailed recipes that you can reproduce anytime, anywhere
- Tips and tricks for organization and faster cooking time
- No fancy utensils that you can’t find in your own kitchen
- Alternative techniques if you don’t have the necessary utensils
- Blandine’s favorite utensils and ingredients available for purchase in The French Kitchen boutique
- Simple techniques you can reproduce anywhere
- No crazy ingredients that you can’t find in stores

Sébastien is originally from a small village near Valence, France, where his passion for French baking first began. Before moving to the States in 2000, Sébastien undertook several apprenticeships to hone his craft, starting as a baking apprentice for Boulangerie Dufour and eventually becoming a pastry chef apprentice for Patisserie Dagand.

After moving to Colorado Springs, Sébastien was eager to expand his career. He worked at several upscale restaurants and bakeries in Colorado Springs, searching for one that truly felt right.

That’s when he found The French Kitchen — his home away from home.

Today, Sébastien is proud to be a part of the French Kitchen family, and he loves sharing his passion for French baking with his customers. But he’s not just a phenomenal baker and pastry chef. He is also Blandine’s right-hand man, and regularly advises her in all aspects of the business.

Kate is a Colorado Native who resides in Old Colorado City with her cat, Penny. She has left a handful of times to other corners of the world, but always finds her way back home. Her most recent adventure was to London, to study cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu. Kate also has a Bachelors in Elementary Education form Arizona State University is very excited to get to use what she’s learned from both schools, here. When it comes to food, Kate likes to focus on healthy, quality ingredients with lots of vegetables. She loves to play with fresh herbs and spices, and often finds inspiration from Mediterranean and North African dishes. Her hobbies outside of the kitchen including hiking, skiing, reading, live music, and gardening.

Originally from Vietnam, Anne came to the U.S. when she was just 10 years old. But being the adventurous spirit that she is, she has lived in many places, including France, Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines. Her adventures gave her the opportunity to experience cuisines from all over the world, giving her a unique perspective and palate.

Anne’s adventures have inspired her to share cooking techniques from across the globe with the people of Colorado Springs. You can find her at The French Kitchen teaching classes that specialize in Asian cooking and cuisines from other countries as well.

To Anne, food is a memory. Food is how she shares her incredible experiences with others. And she’s excited to share those experiences with you, too!

Kristal is a retired KC-135 pilot, originally from North Carolina. Her husband is originally from Pueblo, and they both retired from the Air Force in Colorado Springs and have been living there since 2010. While she was on terminal leave from the Air Force, Kristal attended Cook Street Culinary School in Denver, earned her butchery certificate from the Rocky Mountain Institute of Meat, and her Level 1 Sommelier certification from the International Sommelier Guild. She is currently a Level 2 certified sommelier with the International Wine Guild and Kristal also teaches yoga at a local studio.

Kristal has been with The French Kitchen as an employee off and on for over a year, but she has attended lots of classes. Her favorite class has to be Potatoes, since they are one of her favorite foods! She loves pairing wine and food together, and potatoes can pair with anything... making it the perfect food for her. Kristal also enjoys the bread classes and taking classes with her son.

As for 2020, Kristal is starting to teach a Cooking with Wine Series here at TFK, where she will share how to use wine in your every day meal preparation and how to approach wine tasting and food pairing. She will also continue to offer wine and food pairing experiences around our major holidays. Cheers!

Chef Julien has 15 years experience in the industry, beginning with obtaining his pastry and chocolate degree and participating in culinary competitions in France. He has spent several years as Executive Pastry Chef for luxury bakeries and hotels. Now Owner of La Belle French Bakery in Denver, Chef Julien will teach you all his knowledge as he teaches our masterclasses!

Nancy is originally from New Jersey, but she has lived all over the country. After working for Merrill Lynch for 15 years, she decided it was time to go back to school so she could finally focus on her passion for photography. After getting her degree from the NY Institute of Photography, she became a freelance wildlife photographer specializing in photo greeting cards and calendars.

As an enthusiast of the arts, Nancy has always had a passion for French culture and cuisine. This passion of her’s shines through on a daily basis, and it shines through in both obvious and not-so-obvious ways. Sometimes it’s in the form of a stiff-lipped stare or a wafting hand as she keeps the line moving steadily. But above all else, Nancy’s passion is inspirational. And when you look just beneath it, you’ll find her beautiful smile, fearless dedication, and sharp sense of humor.

Heidi grew up in Ohio in a German family. She and her brothers were the first generation in the family to be born in America. She moved to Colorado during her college years and graduated with a B.A. in Education. She has worked with children and animals (horses and dogs) in many different settings through the years, including outdoor camps and schools. She spent many years raising her 4 kids, 3 boys and a girl, and has cooked and baked her fair share in the home kitchen! Heidi most recently has run a Bed & Breakfast out of her home and really enjoyed all the wonderful guests throughout the past years.
When not at work, she loves doing most anything outdoors such as bicycling, hiking (with her chocolate lab, Jesse), snowshoeing, kayaking ... and also loves reading, sewing/quilting, music and playing with her awesome grandchildren. She is enjoying learning about the wonderful foods The French Kitchen has to offer, and yes, learning to pronounce them properly as well!
Heidi is currently writing a cookbook featuring her breakfasts served at her Bed and Breakfast, and is passionate about the non-profit she is a part of ... NASTaP (Association for Native American Sacred Trees and Places).

Growing up in Colorado, Rebekah knows the blue skies and Rocky Mountains as her home. Being a part of a military family, she has lived in all sorts of places, but she remembers Colorado the most. She's been a part of The French Kitchen ever since November of 2019, and she helps with our flyers and advertising!

When Rebekah isn't working, you can find her studying for school. She's working to gain her Bachelor's in Business Administration and hopes to open her own crochet shop in the future! Rebekah also enjoys creative writing, reading, crocheting, and watching movies. She enjoys spending time with her two cats, Orion and Aries, and her favorite thing to eat is anything sweet. Her most favorite dessert is tiramisu - she loves the coffee and sweet cream!

Lincoln has lived in Colorado springs for 5 years and has been working at The French Kitchen for one year now. We've seen him grow up from a quiet, shy kid, into a joking, fun-loving guy! Lincoln enjoys mountain biking and is currently pursuing his private pilots license with the hope of becoming a commercial pilot. He's a quick worker in the kitchen - he picks up new things quickly, as is able to get his duties accomplished quickly and efficiently. Of all of the classes we offer, Lincoln likes our Bread class the most!