Spring 2008 Contributors

Beth Bandy – Writer
Beth Bandy is a freelance writer living in western Massachusetts. She can be reached
at beth@bethbandy.com.

Irene Costello – Writer
Irene Costello, Managing Partner, Effie's Homemade and Ruby Chard Cooking Classes. After 20 years in the corporate world, Irene broke out to develop her passion for cooking. She earned her a Master's of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy and a certificate in Culinary Arts from Boston University and a certificate in Wine Studies from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.  Irene joined forces with Joan MacIsaac in 2005 bringing a unique combination of culinary and business experience. Irene earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. You can reach her at irene@effieshomemade.com. 

Renee Ciulla - Writer
Renee Ciulla has been dedicated to the world or organic food and farming for several
years. After two years of farming and running a sustainable vegetable garden business
in Montana, she has recently returned back East and plans to attend graduate school
in the Fall for Agroecology. She dreams of owning a farm where she can provide
education and grow food for her local community. Renee can be reached a
BeGreen618@hotmail.com.

Rosie DeQuattro – Writer
Free-lance food writer and a member of SlowFood, Rosie DeQuattro lives in Acton, MA with her furniture-maker/physician husband, Jerry Berke, and their dog, Rita. Rosie can be reached at rosiedequat@hotmail.com.

Sarah Leech-Black - Writer
Sarah Leech-Black is a freelance writer who loves to cook and eat. Besides her writing, she is most proud of her professional crepe-making skills and extensive knowledge of cheese. Much of her writing is seasoned by her culinary curiosities. To read more of her writing go to www.sarahleeckblack.com. 

John Lee – Writer
John Lee is the manager of Allandale Farm (Boston’s Last Working Farm), which specializes, in naturally-grown local produce. He occasionally writes for local news outlets and is deeply involved with farming and locally-grown issues in Massachusetts.

Clare Leschin-Hoar – Writer
Freelance food-writer Clare Leschin-Hoar as been sipping plenty of West County Cider with her friends and family at home in Massacusetts. Her work can be seen at www.leschin-hoar.com.

Joan MacIsaac – Writer
Joan MacIsaac, Executive Chef/Partner, Effie's Homemade and Ruby Chard Cooking Classes. Joan brings more than 20 years professional culinary experience to Effie's Homemade and Ruby Chard. She worked six years in the restaurant industry, culminating as chef at Dahlia Lounge in Seattle before returning to Boston to start her own business, Ruby Chard Catering in 1996. Expanding the business to cooking classes in 2003, Joan later partnered with Irene in 2005 delving into corporate team building cooking classes. Recently Joan consulted for The Food Project, working within their catering services and teaching youth a curriculum in culinary arts. Effie's Homemade was launched in February 2008. You can reach her at joan@effieshomemade.com.

Kim Motylewski – Writer
Kim Motylewski is a print and radio journalist based in Cambridge. She reports on the intersections of food, health and the environment. She can be reached at kmotyl@yahoo.com.

Michael Piazza –Photographer
Michael Piazza (www.michaelpiazzaphotography.com) was born and raised and schooled in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2000 his photography career moved him to New York City. While working for such clients as Saveur, Food Arts, and The Australian Financial Review, Michael also contributed work to Slow Food USA and Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard. He has recently completed 2 cookbooks - Simple Italian Sandwiches and A Ligurian Kitchen. He currently lives in Watertown with his wife and two tail-less cats.

Elizabeth Gawthrop Riely – Writer
Elizabeth Gawthrop Riely edits the Radcliffe Culinary Times, newsletter of the Schlesinger Library at Harvard, on the history of food. Her dictionary, The Chef’s Companion (John Wiley & Sons), in print for 21 years, is now in its 3rd edition, marking changes in the edible landscape. You may find her at the Brookline or Newton Farmers’ Market.

Naz Sioshansi - Writer
Naz Sioshansi is a freelance writer living in Boston, MA with her husband. She has written for The Boston Phoenix, misstropolis.com and Wayside Magazine. She can be reached at nazsioshansi@hotmail.com.

Carole Topalian – Photographer

Edible Communities co-founder, Carole Topalian, travels the world with a finely tuned photographer's eye. Her ability to communicate through photographs brings the Edible Communities mission to life as visual feast, and the pages of our magazines and websites testify to this. In addition to her work as photographer for Edible Communities, Carole also serves as creative director for the company, ensuring the highest possible level of quality and consistency in each of our printed magazines and websites. During the 1980s, Carole owned a Los Angeles-based multimedia company where she produced several award-winning advertising and promotional campaigns for corporate America. In the 1990s, she did graduate work in depth psychology at Pacific Graduate Institute and left the corporate world behind. Today, she enjoys life in the very rural Ojai Valley, where she is able to ride her bike daily and garden at will. Her fine art photographs have been exhibited in over 70 shows throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Visit www.topalianphoto.com for more information.

Rachel Travers – Writer
Rachel Travers is a freelance food, lifestyle and travel writer who has contributed regularly to The Boston Globe, as well as a smattering of regional and national magazines and online sites. She is currently on the Board of the Boston Public Market Association and has been committed to "locally produced" for years. She lives in Lincoln with her daughter and can be reached at alphasoup2@aol.com.

Carlha Vickers – Writer
Carlha Vickers is a writer for Farmers' Markets Today, a new buisness magazine for farmers, published in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and the Belmont Farmers' Market newsletter Roots and Shoots. She has been a long time member of Slow Food Boston and is also a mystery diner for the Mystery Dining Company in the U.K. She lives in Belmont. Her writing can be found at www.belmontfarmersmarket.org/newsletter/2007/newsletter-2007-05.pdf . She can be reached at carlha@verizon.net.

Kit Yoon – Writer
Kit Yoon is a freelance writer, and a liscensed acupuncturist and herbalist. She has been spending the year in Cambridge with her husband and children, enjoying what New England has to offer. They look forward to returning to Northern California this summer where they can frolic on small farms like Blue Heron, all year long. She can be reached at shimboon@gmail.com.