Chief Chef Don Cooking Bio 

Firehouse Gourmet, Inc

Chef Don has been cooking for over 45 years and cooking professionally for over 26 years. He holds a Bachelor degree in Vocational Education, a Professional Certificate in Culinary Arts from JC’s cooking school with Chef Instructor Neil Stuart, has an Instructor and Food Service Managers Training Certificate and has over 70 hours of training with a Master Sommelier.

 

Chef Don has been studying Tequila for over 40 years, continues to visit the Tequila regions of Mexico, been involved in blind tastings. He has been asked to judge and rate Tequilas, with over 800 ratings. Chef is considered a Tequila Aficionado, and sits on a professional tasting and rating panel. Chef Don’s personal tequila library consists of over 190 tequilas.

Chef Don Started Firehouse Gourmet, Inc over 25 years ago catering to small groups and teaching culinary arts. He helped start the Valley Center Adult School Culinary program and was their Executive Chef for outside studies for over a year.

Chef Heiser incorporates the Pacific Rim and Southwestern influences, as well as, New Orleans cuisine and the heat of Tequila to create the style and flavor of the Firehouse Gourmet.

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 Themes & Inspirations

Culinary Discussion

The Social act of dining is one of the ways that humans are distinct from other spices. We eat not just to nourish our bodies but also to strengthen our ties as a group. Foods are prepared before they are eaten! Chef Don incorporates the Pacific Rim and Southwestern influences, as well as, New Orleans Cuisine and the Spirit of Tequila to create the style and flavor of Firehouse Gourmet!

Let’s Talk Tequila

Tequila is more than a beverage; it is a region, a town, and a destination with a culture and a history. Come join the Firehouse Gourmet Team as they answer all your questions on “What is Tequila” Can it be paired with food and what kind, where is the best place to drink it and how can I visit a distillery?

Cigars

Cigars; How do you smoke one, which one should you smoke, do they pair with food, what should you drink with one? Join Chef Don, Ben, Liberty Tobaccos Cigar Aficionado, and Carl Mostert of Vintales as they pair food, cigars, wine, and spirits at Firehouse Gourmet’s special events. Look for Wine and Cigar and Tequila, Tapas, and Cigars.

Wine

We know it’s not much fun standing in the wine aisle looking at bottles and trying to figure out what wine goes with what kind of food or what it might taste like, and what should I pay for a good bottle. At our wine events we offer education, parings, and tastings all done by experts who can answer all your questions.