Ken “Cookie” Goebel
Honorary Past President, Board Member
Chef Goebel, AKA Cookie, a true foodie since 1966, got his start as a culinarian when his mom tricked him into taking cooking classes to meet girls, sadly, there were few women in the class; however, Cookie had found his passion! He graduated with an AA in Restaurant Management and a BS in Health Science and Safety. While schooling he worked his way up to a Sous chef at a Sicilian Style restaurant. From there he launched his career in healthcare Nutrition Services and finished as the Executive Administrative Director of Nutrition & Environmental Services at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. He served on the Emergency Committee, was Hazmat Director, Audio Visual Director, Green Team Leader, managed the Starbucks, and was the Event Coordinator.
Cookies’ community involvement, enthusiasm, amazing creativity, love of life & neighbor makes him a highly recognizable face throughout the greater Monterey Bay area. Cookie has been a member of the American Culinary Federation Monterey Bay Chapter since 1997 and was the for Chef of the Year in 2010. He received the California Association Leadership award for distinguished Leadership in 1993. He was recognized by Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital with the Humanitarian award and received 3 Star Leadership Awards.
While on the Board of Directors for the Monterey County Food Bank from 1991 – 1995, he set the Guinness Record for the World’s Largest Lasagna
Every year for 30 years, Cookie (aka Ken) took the lead at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Men & Women’s Trail Rides and built a “city of Tents on a Ranch”. Surrounding himself with a team of chefs, cooks, culinary students, and volunteer cook “wanna-be’s”, he would bring two weeks of unbelievable cuisine to the city slickers playing cowboy.
Cookie. Since 2010 has served on Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy Advisory Council. From 2007 to 2017 he served with the Food Safety Advisory Committee for Monterey County Environmental Health Department. He is on the Blue Zones Advisory Counsel. In 2007, inspired by his son, started growing grapes and making wine. The label is “Chateau de Shed” and you know it, Cookie is Wine Maker and the Executive. Serving at Bethlehem Lutheran Church since 1989 he continues as chief cook and pot washer.