Jody & Kirstie: The Culinary Studio

Jody O’Malley and Kirstie Herbstreit

The two local chefs and culinary instructors, well-known in Waterloo Region, are about to open The Culinary Studio, located in the former Vincenzo’s location, at 740 Belmont Avenue W, Kitchener.

They will be open soon for hands-on cooking classes, corporate team-building, and culinary workshops.

Favourite footwear, worst recipes, killer beverages? Here’s just a bit of the inside scoop on Jody and Kirstie.

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Best thing you’ve ever eaten?
Jody O’Malley: Braised beef shortrib, creamy polenta, sautéed kale.
Kirstie Herbstreit: My husband’s Cornish game hen ragout with homemade pasta.

Other career you could have pursued?
JOM: Floral designer … but no green thumb.
KH: Veterinarian … but I failed science.

Favourite beverage?
JOM: “Jody soda:” ribena and soda.
KH: Grasshopper wheat beer.

Beverage that once just about killed you?
JOM: vodka and soda.
KH: vodka and Goldschlager.

Chef you’d most like to meet?
JOM: It’s cliché, but Julia Child.
KH: Edna Staebler.

Best footwear (for the kitchen or otherwise)?
JOM: My red Birkies.
KH: Havaianas from Brazil.

Favourite ethnic food in Waterloo Region?
JOK: Bangkok Cuisine, Kitchener.
KH: Going to Masala Bay tonight, so hopefully that is it!

What scares you in a kitchen?
JOM: Bad knife skills.
KH: Fries on an old mandolin.

Greatest failed recipe?
JOM: I try to block those out of my memory.
KH: “Healthy” muffins. Even my brother didn’t like them.

Something that gives you great pleasure?
JOM: Snuggling with my two kids in the early hours of the morning.
KH: Hitting my big brown couch after a long day.

A favourite teacher you’ve had?
JOM: John Bex, pastry instructor at Stratford Chef School.
KH: Wilfrid Laurier Religion Professor Peter Erb; even he knew I was into cooking!

Do you ride a bike?
JOM: I would like to.
KH: No.

A moment in your life you’d like to have back?
JOM: Family Christmas in Florida, no presents just family.
KH: Eating the meal at my wedding.

Where were you born?
JOM: Kitchener.
KH: Kitchener.

Favourite band?
JOM: I like music but I am not into anything specific. I enjoy Johnny Cash, Carly and Mark,  White Stripes, I am really all over the map.
KH: The Grateful Dead.

Who would you like to cook for?
JOM: The pre-chef versions of myself and Kirstie.
KH: My dad.

The thing you wish for Waterloo Region?
JOM: For people to have a better understanding of the great food we have in Waterloo Region.
KH: A late night charcuterie and cheese restaurant and wine bar.

Go-to late-night snack?
JOM: Ice cream.
KH: Cheese and crackers and pickles.

Best thing about being a chef?
JOM: The community and connections with other chefs and the people you cook for. It’s job satisfaction.
KH: Ditto.

Most dumbest purchase you’ve ever made?
JOM: processed cheese
KH: A $400 Green coat that looks like a chesterfield.

Favourite city?
JOM: Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland.
KH: Calgary.

TV chefs who annoy you?
JOM: Chefs who don’t appear on camera as real chefs.
KH: Agreed.  Put an apron on for crying out loud!