The California Culinary Coalition (CCC) was founded on the principle that everyone deserves to be fed daily. More than this, they deserve to eat well and enjoy a nutritious meal. CCC also believes that those who seek education and want to learn, must. Those who seek opportunity, will find. Our goal is to provide healthy meals to those in need and to educate those who want to learn.

Feeding the Soul. Educating the Mind.

California Culinary Coalition was founded by educators and friends, Teresa Zamora and Steven Gostin. Together, they instructed in the culinary arts and hospitality management at The Art Institute of California, Orange County and created their own catering and consulting businesses with great success. As friends and business partners, they wanted to take their skills and knowledge to a new level and open their hearts to helping those who are less fortunate. Thus, California Culinary Coalition was created.

California Culinary Coalition will feed people who need to eat. We know there are too many people who do not have the ability to enjoy eating regularly, yet alone a healthy and nutritious meal. With the pandemic, the number of people unable to feed themselves or their families increased exponentially. We want to help provide as many meals to those in need as we can reach.

More than that, CCC will also provide education and training to those who want to learn and understand what goes in their meals and the food we provide. Together, with the Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education, CCC will also provide training and education in the culinary arts and hospitality management to help those who want to work.

California Culinary Coalition is partnering with the restaurant and hospitality community to help our students obtain gainful employment and build a future. Our partners have agreed to work with our students and help them with employment, growth and opportunity so they can thrive in the world of hospitality.

The late Princess Diana said, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day that someone might do the same for you.”

Throughout the course of our careers we have been provided many great opportunities and have experienced so much kindness and generosity as well as many gifts. We enjoyed amazing foods from around the world. We took part in events and parties and laughed with dignitaries, executives and friends. Never thinking about the food as a necessity, but rather a gift to share and enjoy.

There are those who only wish to enjoy a meal. Those who have never tasted the freshness of vegetables grown in a garden. Those who have never experienced the value of the nutrition food provides our bodies. Those who have never enjoyed a hot meal that is healthy for their souls.

We created California Culinary Coalition to share the gift of food and friends to these people so they too can enjoy what so many of us take for granted on a daily basis. Beyond the food is the knowledge. As college instructors, we understand the value of education. We believe in nurturing the mind with knowledge and we believe in the path to new beginnings through education and training.