Rooted in food, culture, and community.
C’est si Bon! Cooking School is a place where food brings people together. Founded on a love of teaching, tradition, and exploration, our programs are designed to help cooks of all ages build confidence in the kitchen while discovering the stories behind the food we share.
From hands-on classes and kid-chef programs to special events and pop-ups, we believe cooking should be joyful, approachable, and deeply connected to culture, family, and craft.
More than a cooking school
At C’est si Bon!, we believe food is a gateway to understanding the world. Our approach blends classical technique with global inspiration, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and respect for ingredients.
Whether we’re teaching the foundations of cooking, exploring international cuisines, or hosting community-driven events, our goal is simple:
to create meaningful experiences through food.
Erick Snover
Co-Director. Executive Chef. Taste the Adventure. Kid-Chefs. Date Night Pop-Ups. Team Buildings. Goat-Herder.
Erick was born in Colorado and raised in North Carolina; his first taste of rice was in a hectic dumpling house in Chinatown NYC when he was five months old and from there his kitchen art embraced many tastes.
A highly trained executive chef in Vail, Colorado, he specializes in Japanese kaiseki cuisine. Read about him in Denver’s 5280 Magazine.
Erick loves teaching and is always developing new strategies of taste for the Kid-Chef Program and developing events – whether a fund-raiser for No Kid Hungry, NC or O2 Fitness.
When not in the kitchen or office, Erick loves to experience other cultures and cuisines, including those of Normandy, Bilbao, Bonaire, Barcelona, Italy, Croatia, Taiwan, and Japan. Whether foraging for porcini or fermenting koji carrots, Erick is driven by food, family, travel, and culture but mostly cheese and good bread.
Abbie Nichols
Program Director
As the Program Director at C’est si Bon! Cooking School!, Abbie brings over five years of experience and passion to our vibrant cooking school. Her journey here has been enriched by her love for travel, which continuously inspires her to explore and incorporate diverse culinary traditions into our programs. When she’s not at school, you can find her working in her garden, where she enjoys learning about new culinary skills and discovering the many uses of plants.
Three words that best describe Abbie are optimistic, leadership, and organised. These qualities drive her to co-create and implement innovative and engaging programs that help our students and community discover the joy of cooking. Abbie is dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages learning, creativity, and a deep appreciation for the culinary arts.
Feel free to reach out to Abbie at abbie@cestsibon.net, text 919-302-5715 or visit our social media to learn more about our exciting programs.
Dorette Snover
Co-Owner, Co-Director
Influenced by her French name, Italian heritage, and the food traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country where she was born and raised, Dorette Snover graduated with degrees in education and culinary arts. She spent years as a private chef, NPR commentator, food stylist, artisanal cheese apprentice, and media escort to cookbook authors.
In 1997, she opened C’est si Bon!, a cooking school in Chapel Hill, where she teaches the mysteries of kitchens and cooking; both here and abroad in Europe.
Also a writer, please visit her author website, Dorette Ellen Snover for the latest news on her upcoming novel.
Join us in the kitchen
Whether you’re here to learn, explore, or simply enjoy good food, we’re glad you found us. C’est si Bon! is built on curiosity, connection, and the belief that everyone belongs in the kitchen.