Training or degree
Culinary Arts Diploma
Institute of Culinary Education, 1988
Self-reported
All professionals
Cooking lessons in Verona
Carol Jensen
Cooking lessons: Simple weeknight dinners and soups
Retired caterer who teaches one great weeknight dinner at a time in your own kitchen
- 4.8 from 9 reviews
- Lives in Verona
- All five checks passed
Ask a question before you book. Contact details stay private.
Credentials
Professional experience
Owner and chef, Jensen Table Catering
Jensen Table Catering, Verona, 1995 to 2019
Self-reported
Certification
ServSafe Food Handler
National Restaurant Association, 2022
Self-reported
About me
I ran a small catering business out of Verona for almost twenty-five years, mostly graduation parties, church luncheons and the occasional wedding that was way too big for my van. Before that I trained at culinary school in Manhattan and worked the line at a bistro on Bloomfield Avenue, which taught me speed and taught me to clean as I go.
These days I would rather teach than cater. A lot of the people I cook with are newly cooking for one, or cooking for a spouse who used to handle the kitchen. We make real food in a reasonable amount of time, and I show you how to scale a recipe down so you are not eating the same casserole for a week. Knife work goes slowly at first. I hold the board steady and we talk the whole time.
Saturdays I am at the Montclair farmers market before eight. I always come back with too many tomatoes, so expect a few.
What a first visit looks like
- 1
Minute 0 to 10
We look through your kitchen together and pick a dinner that uses what you already have on hand.
- 2
Minute 10 to 25
Prep work at the counter: washing, peeling and chopping, with tips for holding the knife and the food safely.
- 3
Minute 25 to 55
We cook the dish start to finish. You run the stove and I talk you through timing and seasoning.
- 4
Minute 55 to 65
We taste, plate a portion for later, wipe down, and I leave the recipe written out on a card.
What to have ready
- A 10-inch skillet
- Your sharpest chef's knife
- A cutting board
- A family recipe you miss
- Salt, pepper and olive oil
Where Carol goes
- VeronaLives here
- Caldwell
- Livingston
- Montclair
- Short Hills
- West Orange
Where in the home
KitchenDining table
Usual week
Mon
9am
to 1pmTue
Off
Wed
1pm
to 5pmThu
Off
Fri
9am
to 1pmSat
Off
Sun
Off
What families say
“My mother talked about it all through dinner.”
Frank R.
“We made Grandma's sauce and it tasted right.”
Ellen R.
“Second month now. Still the highlight of Dad's week.”
Andre D.
“Very respectful of my father's routines.”
Lisa W.
“Patient with my dad, who can be a lot. Worth every penny.”
Paul J.
“Easy to book and even easier to have in the house.”
Janet C.
“Kind, punctual and so much fun. Dad is already asking about next week.”
Susan P.
“A real bright spot in our week. Highly recommend.”
Michael R.
“Patient and encouraging. My mother painted her first landscape!”
Linda T.
Checked and vetted
- Online search
- A real conversation with our team
- Signed provider agreement
- Criminal background check
- National sex offender registry check
$75 per hour
Plus a $2.50 booking fee and 10% service fee.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before.