Chef Ken Rubin, a chef educator and food anthropologist with 18 years of broad industry experience, oversees Rouxbe’s cooking course curriculum development and recruitment. Recognized for his expertise in education and training, food culture research, health and wellness and product development, Ken nevertheless considers himself a lifelong student of every aspect of food.

Ken has held top-level management positions at well-respected culinary academies including Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America, Chefs.com, the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Portland and the Natural Epicurean Academy. As a volunteer, he served as board director of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and is currently a trustee and chair of The Culinary Trust, IACP’s philanthropic partner.

Ken studied the anthropology of food and developed ethnographic research methods to understand how people learn to cook. He received his BA from Colorado College and an MA in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Eric Wynkoop previously served as a founding faculty member at The International Culinary School, instructor in anthropology at Portland State University, and Senior Instructor at the Le Cordon Bleu program at Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Oregon. He holds Master’s Degrees in postsecondary education and cultural anthropology, as well as credentials in Ayurveda wellness and cooking.

Eric has spent more than twenty years in the food and beverage industry. His experiences include banquet management, catering, personal chef, winery cellar hand, educator, textbook contributor, consultant, and ethnographer. He also brings food and cultural insight from nearly a decade of residence in Japan, studies in Mexico, and research in India as a Fulbright Scholar. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a dual degree in Japanese and Asian Studies, he went on to receive his formal culinary training at Western Culinary Institute, in Portland, Oregon.

Eric’s role with Rouxbe will be central to enhancing the student experience through quality course content and new course development at Rouxbe. Eric will also continue in his capacity as lead instructor in Rouxbe courses, which he has been doing since 2016.