CONQUERING CUISINE

Conquering Cuisine is mix of businesses,” says owner Denis Chiappa, who is a chef, cooking instructor and caterer. “First and foremost,” Denis says, “we are a cooking school. Not for professionals but for people who are food enthusiasts, people wanting to do something different and even for a date. We also offer prepared meals that people can order, take home and heat up for dinner. And we offer catering.”

Denis Chiappa has been a cooking instructor for over 25 years. He offers specialized classes, but says, “One of the most popular things that we're doing now is what we call our Date Night Series. It is an opportunity for couples who, instead of going out to dinner on a Friday or Saturday night, take a cooking class. The come in and they work. It's a hands-on class and they’ll make three different dishes. And we also serve them dessert. So rather than just go out and have someone serve you, you’re involved in the preparation.” The end result, of course, is a romantic meal.

Other classes focus on techniques, specific foods, wine tasting and pairing and even a kid’s Class. At one of the kid’s classes, the children come in with an adult and they cook side by side. But there is a class where they come in alone. “It’s like the camp approach, where we break them into groups and they make different dishes.”And these are just some of the things that Conquering Cuisine is doing. To learn more about Conquering Cuisine, located on 378 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA, visit www.conqueringcuisine.com.

Bill Kunze joined Heritage Conservancy in the fall of 2021 after 15 years as a senior leader with The Nature Conservancy. He brings deep experience helping organizations accelerate the pace and scale of land conservation and develop innovative strategies around conservation funding, community engagement, sustainable forestry and agriculture, urban conservation, and climate resilience. Bill brings to Heritage Conservancy a passion for nature and history: the two foundations of the organization's mission.

He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in history. As a young child, Bill fell in love with nature through birding excursions to Hawk Mountain in Berks County and Brigantine (now Forsythe) National Wildlife Refuge near Atlantic City. Bill says, “To this day, I’m an avid birder and amateur bird photographer, and as a leader in the land conservation movement for the past 17 years, I have worked to protect the land for the benefit of both nature and people. Heritage Conservancy’s dual mission to keep our land and history alive resonates strongly with these two passions of mine. Put that together with the quality of the organization and the people associated with it, and this is a perfect fit for me.”

Bill meets with staff and board members to plan strategies and projects to advance the Heritage Conservancy mission; and with landowners, donors, community members and leaders, business and government leaders, and other mission-focused organizations to turn these plans into reality. Bill says, “So, depending on the day, I might be in the office in meetings or out walking a beautiful place with a landowner. Either way, you’ll find me with people–that’s how this work gets done.”

Heritage Conservancy is a nationally accredited 501(c)3 conservation organization located at Historic Aldie Mansion, 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA 18901. Heritage Conservancy’s mission is to protect and care for the lands of our region, to engage with and share the history that unfolded on these lands, and to connect people with both. Visit www.Heritage Conservancy.org, or call 215-345-7020 for more information.