Biography
Olson was born Anna Tomcik in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents, Donna and Andy Tomcik emigrated to Toronto where she grew up. Olson earned a degree in political studies and sociology from Queen’s University in Kingston. She also worked for a time in a bank in downtown Toronto. During her lunch breaks, Olson wandered the St. Lawrence Market searching for different ingredients and inspiration for her next dinner party. Olson then enrolled in the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colorado. Upon her graduation from the university, Olson traveled across the United States. She would eventually find her way to Niagara Falls. Olson was a pastry chef at Inn on the Twenty in Jordan, Ontario for seven years, where she met her husband, chef Michael Olson.
Aside from working in television, Olson has also explored print media. The Inn on the Twenty Cookbook was co-authored by her husband and published in 2000. Olson also published a cookbook called Sugar in 2004. It was a companion to her TV show by the same name which can be found on Food Network Canada. 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 Olson 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. Olson also writes for publications such as Vines and LCBO Food and Drink.
Anna Olson opened Olson Food at Port in Port Dalhousie, a historic lakeside community in St. Catharines, Ontario. She sold the Port Dalhousie shop in April 2009, to their long-time friend and pastry chef Andrea Poirier and her sister Leesa Leshkewich.
In July 2008, the Olsons opened their second location, Olson Foods at Ravine, in partnership with Ravine Vineyards in St. David's, Ontario. It was announced in a press release on Feb 1, 2010,that they are no longer involved with the location at The Ravine Winery and the partnership is ended.
Olson supports a local program called the Niagara Women’s Enterprise Centre. The centre provides training in the hospitality sector to women who might not have that opportunity, with her end-of-the-day product given to a local YWCA women's shelter or Out of the Cold Program.
Read more about this topic: Anna Olson
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