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CHEF Nancy Weiss
Consulting Chef
Child Nutrition Advocate
CHEF Nancy Weiss
Consulting Chef
Child Nutrition Advocate
About
Nancy Weiss
After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in English, Nancy went on to open SOhO Restaurant and Music Club in the mid 1980's in Santa Barbara. Owning and operating this local gem, Nancy not only built an award-winning restaurant but also a thriving live, local music venue in her community. In 2008, Nancy took over as Director of Food Services for the Santa Barbara School District (SBUSD). There she revolutionized food service for her students to an incredibly high standard. Weiss’ reinvention of campus dining challenges the entire “School Food” model and continues to make S.B. Unified an example for forward thinking school districts throughout the nation. She has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty and has set an example for Food Service Directors nationally. Nancy is the recipient of the 2018 Santa Barbara Independent Local Hero Award, The Spirit of Service Award (from the City of Santa Barbara for commitment to composting and sustainability), The Golden Carrot Award (from the physicians committee for responsible medicine) and The 2017 Congressional Woman of the Year Award.
The Mission
In a district of 15,000 kids, Weiss retooled and retrained multiple kitchens to prepare all entrees, soups, sauces and dressings from scratch. Her whole grain sandwich rolls, pizza and pastries are baked fresh daily. Chef Weiss emphasizes wholesome ingredients and avoids additives, hormones, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and frozen entrees to give students the healthiest choices daily. She has also taken the lead in showing that the modern public school cafeteria can be environmentally friendly by eliminating all Styrofoam use. Nancy is dedicated to the health of her students, and strived to see that products are sourced from local Santa Barbara farms and businesses. Nancy also enlisted a fleet of seven food trucks to serve students at school sites without meal programs. To ensure that students can eat well during the summer months, Chef Weiss has also expanded her responsibilities to include serving Santa Barbara’s kids over the summer vacation. Weiss accomplished all of the above while reigning in costs, bringing her department in under budget and providing full-time positions with benefits to over a hundred employees.
Features & Articles
Keeping SB Kids From Going Hungry in the Summer
SB Unified First in U.S. to Serve 50% Daily Vegan Options with Hungry Planet "Range Free" Meat
SB Unified First in U.S. to Serve 50% Daily Vegan Options with Hungry Planet "Range Free" Meat
Thursday, May 31, 2018
SB Unified First in U.S. to Serve 50% Daily Vegan Options with Hungry Planet "Range Free" Meat
SB Unified First in U.S. to Serve 50% Daily Vegan Options with Hungry Planet "Range Free" Meat
SB Unified First in U.S. to Serve 50% Daily Vegan Options with Hungry Planet "Range Free" Meat
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Nancy Weiss Given Santa Barbara Local Hero Award
SB Unified First in U.S. to Serve 50% Daily Vegan Options with Hungry Planet "Range Free" Meat
Congressman Carbajal Names Nancy Weiss Congressional Woman of the Year
November 22, 2017
Congressman Carbajal Names Nancy Weiss Congressional Woman of the Year
Congressman Carbajal Names Nancy Weiss Congressional Woman of the Year
Congressman Carbajal Names Nancy Weiss Congressional Woman of the Year
Mar 27, 2017
SB Unified's Nancy Weiss Wins National Golden Carrot Award
Congressman Carbajal Names Nancy Weiss Congressional Woman of the Year
SB Unified's Nancy Weiss Wins National Golden Carrot Award
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Santa Barbara's Cafeteria Queen
Congressman Carbajal Names Nancy Weiss Congressional Woman of the Year
SB Unified's Nancy Weiss Wins National Golden Carrot Award
Media
Nancy on National Public Radio
Superintendent Susan Salcido talks with Nancy Weiss about hunger, health & much more
Superintendent Susan Salcido talks with Nancy Weiss about hunger, health & much more
Superintendent Susan Salcido talks with Nancy Weiss about hunger, health & much more
Superintendent Susan Salcido talks with Nancy Weiss about hunger, health & much more
Superintendent Susan Salcido talks with Nancy Weiss about hunger, health & much more
Edible Santa Barbara: Making America Stronger One School Lunch at a Time
Superintendent Susan Salcido talks with Nancy Weiss about hunger, health & much more
Edible Santa Barbara: Making America Stronger One School Lunch at a Time