Helena Gustafson (2003 graduate)

Coming from three generations of restaurateurs in Sweden, Helena Gustafson enrolled in the CAHS program in 2001. She followed both the Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management tracks, and graduated in 2003.

She did her internship at Fleur de Lys, one of the finesh French Restaurants on the West Coast. While there, she was exposed to elegant and innovative cuisine and refined service.

Another thing happened while Helena was in San Francisco - she met, fell inlove with and married her current husband, Spencer Giesen. Helena and Spencer had dreamed of opening a place of their own; a casual spot that would showcase Helen's cooking ability and Spencer's expertise in wine.

Eventually an opportunity presented itself; an empty storefront on Main Street in Guerneville, a small resort town on the Russian River, about 80 miles north of San Francisco. This place had been through several culinary incarnations, none of them very successful. It also needed a lot of work. Fortunately, Spencer is gifted in Carpentry and Design, and Helena is not only a very talented cook, but also very good with number. "While I was planning the restaurant, I really came to appreciate the emphasis put on financial planning and cost control in the CAHS program."

After several months of hammering, sawing, painting, permit applications and menu planning sessions, the Charizma Wine Lounge and Deli opened in early 2006. As Helena and Spencer know the value of having several market niches, Charizma is casual lunch spot with takeout service by day. At night, the space is transformed into a casual, but elegant dining room. The dinner menu relies on the bounty of excellent Sonoma County products, and gives an occasional nod to Helena's Swedish background.

If you would like to visit Helena, she is open every day but Monday for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday, and loves to see people from City College.

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