culinary consulting & bespoke gourmet tours
with chef barbara alexander
about b. train ventures
outside-the-box culinary consulting for elite chefs, cooking schools, and national ingredient boards
recipe development that pushes the envelope with plant-forward cuisine, sustainable practices, and a waste-free philosophy
custom international food tours for small groups who feast with all their senses
meet chef b.
Barbara Alexander, CEC, CHE is a consulting chef for The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) authoring a new curriculum for the CIA in plant-forward cuisine. For more than 30 years, Barbara has worked as a professional executive chef, running pedigree hotel kitchens and Michelin-level restaurants in Vancouver, Canada and Sydney, Australia.
Barbara left the restaurant business to become a culinary educator with The Dubrulle French Culinary School in Vancouver Canada, the CIA at Greystone, and a 16-year stint as culinary director at the lauded Napa Valley Cooking School. Barbara holds degrees in English literature and journalism, and is a Certified Executive Chef and Certified Hospitality Educator from the American Culinary Federation. An avid traveller, Barbara is a partner in two culinary travel and tour operations, leading bespoke culinary adventures in the Napa Valley and worldwide. Barbara brings a humorous synergy of education, knowledge, and experience to the table, peppered with stories of the professional kitchen, travel, and an appreciation for an enriching cultural experience.
culinary consulting & training
teaching
As a chef, mentor, and teacher, Chef B. encourages students and fellow chefs to cook outside their comfort zones, blending classic, tested techniques with contemporary concepts. With experience in Michelin restaurants, corporate food service, and 17 years at the helm of the Napa Valley Cooking School, Barbara’s presence in the kitchen is practiced, intuitive, and approachable.
bespoke culinary tours
for travelers with great taste
Learn to swirl and sip a velvety Napa Valley cabernet, then walk through the vineyards and try your hand at wood-fired cooking before dinner with the winemaker.
Visit a night market in Vietnam for savory bún chả with fresh herbs, sample fresh prickly pear in Morocco, or venture deep into Italian caves to share a spread of handmade cheeses with a small group of passionate fellow travelers, chefs, and artisans.
Barbara leads guests on joyful, exploratory, all-senses adventures through some of the world’s most delicious places, from the Napa Valley, California to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Scroll right for more tasty snaps
testimonials
"As a teacher and mentor Chef B helped me explore all aspects of the culinary world. With her expertise and enthusiasm she created an environment where students always wanted to learn more and grow more in their profession. I went into my career as a chef prepared and excited to share what I had learned. Thanks to Chef B I am now teaching in a high school culinary arts program hoping to send more inspired students out into the culinary world."
Derek M.
"We had the most fabulous time in Napa. Everything was perfectly planned, and we enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours at the wineries. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and pampered!"
Lyle and Rosa, Hartford, Connecticut
press
'Enviously delicious travel:' On the road with Barbara Alexander - Read Article
July 29, 2019
The CIA Premieres New Balsamic Vinegar Documentary - Read Article
May 1, 2019
Get the Latest Food and Wine Trends in Napa Valley - Read Article
January 13, 2019
Napa Valley Based Travel Company Teams Up with Acclaimed Chef Barbara Alexander to Curate Luxury Experiences in Napa Valley - Read Article
January 9, 2019
Chef Barbara Alexander Leaves Napa Valley Cooking School - Read Article
June 19, 2018
Escoffier Questionnaire: Barbara Alexander of Napa Valley Cooking School - Read Article
December 1, 2014