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.