Anna Olson

All you want to know about Anna Olson

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Anna Olson
Born 1968
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Education Johnson & Wales University
Current restaurant(s)
Previous restaurant(s)
Television show(s)
Official Website


Anna Olson {born 1968 in Atlanta, Georgia} is a professionally trained pastry chef. Olson currently resides in the city of Welland, Ontario in the Niagara region of Ontario. She is the host of Food Network Canada's Sugar and Kitchen Equipped. She will be hosting the show Fresh with Anna Olson for Food Network Canada in 2008. [1]

Contents

Biography

Prior to joining Food Network Canada, Olson was a pastry chef at Inn on the Twenty in Jordan, Ontario for seven years. Working in a winery type restaurant appealed to Olson. The fact the Inn on the Twenty used local and seasonal ingredients also appealed to Olson. While at Inn on the Twenty, Anna soon met her future husband Michael Olson.[2]

Anna was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents immigrated to Canada, more specifically Toronto, Ontario where Anna would grow up.[3] Although cooking was not her first choice she soon realized it was her passion. Before cooking came along, Anna earned her degree in Political Studies and Sociology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. While discovering her passion for cooking, Anna worked for a time in a bank in downtown Toronto. It was during her lunch breaks that she would wander the St. Lawrence Market searching for different ingredients and inspiration for her next dinner party. That was when she knew cooking was her true calling.

Anna Olson then enrolled in the culinary program at Johnson & Wales University in Vail, Colorado. She never second guessed this choice. Upon her graduation for the culinary institute, Olson set out and travelled across the United States in various states and cities such as Texas and New Orleans. She would eventually find her way to Niagara Falls.

Aside from working in television, Olson has also explored print media. The Inn on the Twenty Cookbook was co-authored by her husband Michael and published in 2000. Anna also published a cookbook called Sugar in 2004. It was a companion to her popular TV show by the same name which can be found on Food Network Canada. Anna Olson co-authored another book with her husband which was released in October 2005. The book is called Anna & Michael Olson Cook at Home: Recipes for Everyday and Every Occasion. This is a menu driven book which highlights how Anna and her husband cook at home. It also includes tips and tricks for entertaining and weeknight dining. Olson is writing another book with recipes derived from "Sugar", called Another Cup of Sugar slated for release in late 2006. While Anna is not in front of the camera or writing a book, she can be found freelance writing for many different publications such as Vines and LCBO Food and Drink.

While away from the camera and the stroke of a pen, she can be seen at Olson Foods at Port in Port Dalhousie. Port Dalhousie is a historic lakeside community in St. Catharines, Ontario. Olson Food at Port opened its doors in August 2004. The shop has an open kitchen right on site and sells many different items such as fresh baked goods which are made fresh every day, artisanal cheeses and gourmet pantry items.

In July 2008, Anna and Michael will open their second location, Olson Foods at Ravine, in partnership with Niagara's newest winery, Ravine Vineyards in St. David's, Ontario.

Olson also participates in various fundraisers in and around her region, but Anna supports a local program called the Niagara Women’s Enterprise Centre. The centre basically provides training in the hospitality sector to women who might not have that opportunity, plus her end-of-the-day product is graciously given to a local YWCA women's shelter or Out of the Cold Program.

Endorsments

Starbucks Coffee

Anna has been featured for the past few years in various promotions for Starbucks Coffee Canada. This started in the winter of 2004, when her Mocha Bites recipe was featured on a recipe card available in Starbucks retail stores.

In spring of 2005, Starbucks Coffee featured Anna Olson in television advertisements aired nationally to promote their sweepstakes that was held in-conjunction with Food Network Canada and to introduce Anna's Brown Sugar Pound Cake being sold in retail stores. This also included in-store advertising of her cake with special pastry toppers and take home recipe cards.

In winter of 2005, her Chai Decadence Chocolate Bundt Cake was one of the featured holiday pastries sold in stores ( once again promoted with in-store recipe cards ). Anna was also featured in the Christmas television advertisement for Starbucks Coffee Canada.

Anna was recently seen promoting Starbucks in the spring of 2006 in television advertisements for Starbucks Coffee's annual Brewing Sale 2006.

Splenda

Starting in late 2005, Anna has also appeared in television advertisements for Splenda and has provided recipes on their official Canadian website.

KitchenAid

Has also appeared in television advertisements for KitchenAid appliances.

Pillsbury

Has done commercials for Pillsbury Christmas cookies during the 2006 Christmas season.

TV appearances

Books

  • Inn on the Twenty Cookbook co-wrote with Michael Olson (July 2003 Whitecap Publishing, ISBN 1-55285-518-X)
  • Sugar - (April 2004 Whitecap Publishing, ISBN 1-55285-509-0)
  • Anna & Michael Olson Cook at Home: Recipes for Everyday and Every Occasion co-wrote with Michael Olson - (October 2005 Whitecap Publishing, ISBN 1-55285-702-6)
  • Another Cup of Sugar - (October 2006 Whitecap Publishing, ISBN 1-55285-809-X)

References

  1. ^ Food Network Canada Blog - "On Set of Fresh with Anna Olson" dated September 14, 2007
  2. ^ "About Anna". AnnaOlson.ca. Retrieved on 2008-09-15.
  3. ^ "Anna Olson bio". LifeStyle Food. Retrieved on 2008-09-15.

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Olson"

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