Tom Culbertson is a very unique Tasting Week chef.  He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena with a Baking and Pastry Certificate.  He had many jobs in food: Cheese monger at Dean and Deluca, Pastry Cook, and even Pastry Chef.  After following his passion for food – he developed a new passion for education, and is now a fourth grade teacher at Juana Briones Elementary school in Palo Alto! This made him the perfect choice for this week’s workshop at his own school. He changed his teacher clothes for an apron and prepared the most delicious pears dipped in a syrup composed of star anis, cinnamon and cloves. The multipurpose room smelled so good! The kids said they could not believe that pears could take so much like apple pie.