Patrick F. Quinn
Culinary Cultivator
Patrick is a passionate food lover who believes that consistent and smart nutritional choices will support a healthier lifestyle for many people. Food should be an experience that creates edible memories.
He was a certified personal trainer who decided to increase his knowledge within the fitness industry by achieving a Masters Degree in Exercise Science then becoming a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He fell in love with learning how food impacts the overall performance and recovery of athletes.
Has gained new perspective for sports nutrition through his career with The Gatorade Company. He saw the impact of nutrition on the success of competitive athletes. He decided to fuse his knowledge of strength & conditioning and passion for food into a new business venture.
He worked an Internship at Three in Wynwood, one of Chef Norman Van Aken’s Miami Restaurants, for a year. Mentored by a talented collection of chefs in this location who taught me to great technique and insight on cuisine flavor and presentation. He has taken the amazing instruction and knowledge gained from this internship and turned it into a growing business model to provide delicious whole food meals for pro athletes and health conscience clients in the comfort of their home.
Now he is growing a team of like minded chefs who can provide phenomenal food experiences that range from supporting peak performance goals of professional athletes to memorable private dining.
Lisa Dorfman
MS, RD, CSSD, CCMS, LMHC, FAND As The Running Nutritionist®, Registered Dietitian and Chef
Lisa is a leading health expert consulting to industry, academia, the public & press for more than three decades. Lisa has built a global Integrative Sports Nutrition & Performance Practice, consulting to Olympian, Professional, Collegiate & Junior athletes, Lisa was the US Sailing Olympic and Paralympics Team Nutritionist for the ‘08 Beijing Olympics & is Nutrition Expert for Zumba® Plate program. A consultant to Sony Entertainment Latin America, Lisa is known as the Celebrity Nutritionist working with some of Hollywood’s Award winning actors/actresses who have appeared in Avengers, Gone Girl, Iron Man 3, Book Thief, 13 Hours, The Glades, Hatfield’s & McCoy’s, soap operas & commercials & to young artists at Julliard School in New York City.
The ‘17 DIFM National Excellence in Practice Award Recipient, Lisa is an Integrative Licensed Nutritionist/RD, Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Board Certified Professional Counselor, certified chef, certified USAT&F & USA Triathlon Coach, Certified Reiki Practitioner, Certified Horticulturist & Fellow of The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. She completed the Chef Certificate program at Miami Culinary Institute and the Culinary Medicine program at the Goldring Center of Tulane Medical School. You can find more on Lisa at her website: www.foodfitness.com
We are thankful to have Lisa as a part of the Blank Canvas Cooking Family.
Andre Franks
Personal Chef and Culinary Instructor
Andre attended Johnson and Wales University (JWU) and received formal training in the field of culinary. While at JWU, Andre learned everything from basic knife techniques, world cuisine, ice carving, food cost management, and a host of other skills necessary to excel in the food service industry. While in college Andre had the opportunity to work and intern at two 4-star hotels, The South Beach Food & Wine Festival, and a multitude of other parties, caterings, and events. From this experience he would emerge as Chef Andre Franks. Upon graduation, he began his career in the culinary field as a working chef; proving himself at every stage. Chef Andre has worked in some of the top hotels, restaurants, and corporate companies.
Andre joined Levy Restaurant family at the American Airlines Arena in Miami Fl, where he catered to season ticket holder, Star Box guest, The Miami Heat organization and special guest that came into the arena. After two year as a Sous Chef, Chef Andre took his talents and skills to the corporate world of food service and joined the Aramark Corporation as an Executive Chef where he worked for 5 years. After he felt that is was time for a move and better opportunity for growth, he then moved to Compass Group, NAD/Chartwell School Dining in 2006, as an Assistant Food Service director at EF International Language School in Miami Beach, Florida. While there he improved both food & labor costs and student meal consumption. In 2008, Andre became Food Service Director at Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc. in Tallahassee, FL, where he grew the company’s bottom line a relationship value.
We are thankful to have Andre as a part of the Blank Canvas Cooking Family.
Andre Palmer
Personal Chef and Culinary Instructor
Chef Palmer's passion for cooking and creating is nothing new. After graduating from the University of Miami, he opened a restaurant with a friend and old roommate, which ignited his passion for culinary arts. Once that chapter was winding down, he decided to formalize his education and attended culinary school. It is during this time he honed his craft and was a leader at work as a cook. He worked his way up to become a traveling chef for the company and a vital member of the kitchen. Chef Palmer is Caribbean born and his style of cooking showcases his cultural upbringing. You can find his creations on his site: www.palmernation.com.
We are thankful to have him as a part of the Blank Canvas Cooking Family.
Mike Lenz
Personal Chef
Mike hails from New York, is the father of two children, and formerly a strength & conditioning assistant as well as personal trainer. His passion for food turned into reality in 2015 when began his culinary journey. He attended Miami-Dade College Culinary school and worked in some of Miami’s finer establishments. His aim is to deliver simple, healthy and comforting food with an amazing dining experience. Whether meal prep planning or seated service - quality & professionalism will never fall short.
We are thankful to have Andre as a part of the Blank Canvas Cooking Family.
Amanda Fernandez
Sports Nutritionist
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Amanda Fernandez earned her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Duquesne University in 2013. Fernandez also obtained her Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certificate during her time at Duquesne. Upon graduating, she was awarded the National Athletic Trainers’ Association District II Joe Iezzi Scholarship, which she used towards earning her Master's Degree in Nutrition with a specialization in Exercise Physiology - Strength & Conditioning from the University of Miami (Fla.).
While earning her Master’s Degree from the University of Miami (Fla.), Fernandez was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer from 2014-16, where she worked with the men’s and women’s track and field, cross country, volleyball, baseball, and football teams. During her time with the Hurricanes, the indoor women’ track and field team was crowned as ACC champs in 2016. Upon graduating from UM, Fernandez also earned her Certified Nutrition Specialist certification, Florida State license in Dietetics and Nutrition and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist certification. Following her graduate assistantship at UM, she was hired at the school for a year-long position as an Athletic Training Assistant and Nutrition Intern, working with the football team from July of 2016 to June of 2017.
In June of 2018, Fernandez was hired and still currently serves as Florida International University’s first full-time Sports Nutritionist, while functioning as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. Fernandez created and implemented the Sports Nutrition program at FIU and oversees the nutritional needs of all 18 Division I athletic teams, caring for over 400 student-athletes. In August of 2020, Fernandez graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition. She completed her accredited dietetic internship through Gulf Coast Dietetic Internship, completing rotations at Wayne Memorial Hospital(Honesdale, PA), Franco Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Miami, FL), Women Infants Children (Miami, FL), University of Miami Cystic Fibrosis Clinic (Miami, FL), and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (Miami, FL). Fernandez continues to work towards obtaining her Registered Dietitian certificate.
Trina Marie
Wine Consultant
Wine Enthusiast, Host of Wine With Friends, and based in Alexandria, VA, Trina recently completed her Wine Spirit & Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Award in Wines. She is a graduate of Howard University and Federal Civil Servant by day. Her love for wines was peaked in visiting vintage Virginia wineries. Her path in Wine has been in the wine sales and tastings arena. In 2014, Trina launched Chick on the Scene, a wine focused social company dedicated to sharing good wine, great locations and lovely experiences. She has retail wine experience the includes Direct Sales, Wine Consulting and Retail Wine Stores. She is committed to connecting people to great wine one glass at a time.
Alberto Appolon
Personal Chef and Culinary Photographer
Known for his decadent French/Caribbean creations and his artistic use of color, Albertho Appolon uses farmer’s market ingredients to create mouth-watering dishes that dazzle.
A native Haitian, 24-year-old Appolon has already led kitchens in Miami, Los Angeles, Texas, and Nashville. His scratch-made cuisine is packed with luscious flavor and a visual presentation that keeps people coming back for more. With his early career successes and dedication to culinary excellence, Appolon is setting the stage for a new generation of young Chefs.
JL The Mixologist
Mixologist & Event Host
Introducing JL one of South Florida’s most amazing mixologists. She has been creating works of art at the hottest bars around South Florida for more than 15 years. With the South Florida tropical climate, the nights are hot and JL’s drink creations are pure fire to match the Florida heat.
She attended the prestigious Johnson and Wales University, where she honed her craft and brings not only her Puerto Rician Latin flair to her one of a kind creations, she also brings that raw grit and passion from her childhood in The Bronx.
JL crafts one of a kind drink mixes to pair perfectly with anything you can imagine.
She’s EN FUEGO!