What lead you to want to become a chef?I absolutely love to cook, I love to give all of my heart to the people through the flavors of the food.

What do you love about food in particular and how has it changed your life? I love the flavors of food, the variety of ingredients that are available to use and combine.  Food has really changed my life -- since I have stopped eating meat and have been eating more vegetables, I feel healthier and more vibrant.  I was diagnosed with Diabetes this year, and have been being really successful at healing myself simply through these changes in my diet!

How long have you been in the industry?
I've been working in the food industry for 15 years - 14 years working with meat, and a year and a half working here at Gracias Madre in a vegan environment.  It's a really different environment, and vegetables are so much healthier than meat!  I really like vegan Mexican food -- it's not fattening, it's healthier, you feel stronger, and it's delicious!

Have you been a chef before?
Yes, for 14 anos.

What were you doing before you came to Gracias Madre, and what do you plan to do next?
Before I was in charge of a meat-based taqueria, and I am so happy with my transition to Gracias Madre.  My future plans are to continue on with Gracias Madre, and bring it even greater and greater success!

What is surprising and unique about you that most people would not know about you?
People might not know that I'm very peaceful, that I'm extremely dedicated to my responsibilites, and that the most important thing to me are my food and my customers...without my customers, I wouldn't be who I am.

What's your favorite vegetable and fruit?
My favorite vegetable has recently become lettuce, and my favorite fruit is the plantain.

1. What lead you to want to become a chef?                        -I loved experimenting with food when I was a little kid; making crazy concoctions that were unrecognizable as food.  Then when I was in my second year at college, all I wanted to do was cook food to bring together my community.  I spent all of my time finding new exciting recipes and preparing meals.  I ended up dropping out of school that year to go to culinary school.  I followed that up with a nutrition education at Bauman College, where I really learned how to feed myself and others in a way I could feel good about.

2. What do you love about food in particular and how has it changed your life?
-I love how food brings people together to create community.  I love thinking about people gathering around food across the ages and our differences and similarities to how we do it today. I also love food as a medium for art.  It is a temporary art that awakens all of the senses.  Food has changed my life in so many ways.  My relationship to food is always growing as I experiment, learn about new ingredients and new methods of preparation.  I love that there is always more to learn too.

3. How long have you been in the industry?
-I started working at my first restaurant when I was 18 and now am 22.  There have been so many facets of the industry to play with.

4. Have you been a chef before?
-I have been a personal Chef, and had my own catering company for a while which was a lot of work and very fun at the same time.  

5. What were you doing before you came to Cafe Gratitude and what do you plan to do next?
-I was teaching cooking classes, which I am still doing.  I just started a new series in Windsor that is for Cancer Prevention and survival through the non-profit The Cancer Project.  I want to continue these classes for a long time; they are very rewarding and fun.  

6. What is surprising and unique about you that most people would not know about you?
-I am a circus performer at heart.  I love doing headstands and spinning fire poi.  I would still love to run away to the circus!

7. What's your favorite vegetable and fruit?
-My favorite vegetable these days is kale because it tastes so good, is so versatile and is SO nutrient dense.  My favorite fruit right now is...well, all citrus fruit because I am so excited about the abundance on the trees right now.  I love citrus season!

8. Thank you for sharing and I loved hearing your inspiring story!
-Thank you for asking the questions!  It is fun telling my story once in a while and realizing how far I've come in the past few years.  And my relationship to my story always changes, which is so fun to watch. 

Sarah is a kitchen line chef at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley.  

1. What lead you to want to become a chef?

-First my creativity.  Second: my belief in health as primary wealth. Our bodies are our vehicle; we need to have the best possible fuel to live our highest selves. Being of service to others and being able to use my talents is very important, all of which led me to want to become a chef.