Grammy-nominated music producer, owner of his own record label, and recent refugee from L.A., Tim Ramenofsky does what he calls "jazz cooking" for the Boulder Carriage House Community Table. It's all about improvisation, and feeding the homeless.

Boulder Carriage House is a local nonprofit that provides meals as well as many other basic, employment, and healing services for Boulder's homeless and working poor. Ramenofsky is the catalyst who turns the eclectic food donations that the Carriage House receives from local food banks, into 600 supremely edible, even delicious, meals served at the Carriage House each week.

"My most amazing example of bizarro-world cooking?" Ramenofsky asks. "Frozen chicken and 20 lbs of pepperoni slices - we wrapped the pepperoni around the chicken and baked it. Then we added about a pallet load of canned ravioli. We made a sort of stew out beef broth and canned vegetables and corn. It tasted good but I guarantee that it was a once-in-a- lifetime dish." He adds, "We couldn't even name it."

A fairly recent arrival from the Left Coast, Ramenofsky appreciates Boulder. "L.A. is really soulless. There are literally thousands of homeless people there," he says. After that, Boulder is like a breath of fresh air. "The coolest thing about Boulder is its helping attitude," he says.

"Volunteering is a big part of my life, but it's only about four hours a week," he says. "I also spend a few hours each week just to check up what's arrived in terms of food, but nothing really comes together until we get in the kitchen with the donated food."

Ramenofsky directs a small group of volunteers in putting together his culinary creations. "Some of the nicest people show up to cook and open cans, which is a huge task when you're talking about 60-70 cans," he laughs.

"But it's always fun. I bring my jambox to the kitchen and we listen to some Herbie Hancock. It's jazz cooking!!" And just like jazz, it's the improvisation that counts.

For information about volunteering with Boulder Carriage House Community Table or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.