Hi!  Thanks for taking a look at our website.  I hope you like what you've seen!

Here's a little about me:

I grew up in the Midwest where I spent many lazy afternoons in my grandmother's kitchen soaking up her culinary knowledge and sneaking as many tastes of her cooking as possible.

I majored in French history and art history at Yale University.  As part of my studies I spent a year in Paris where, as is the case for many a chef, my fondness for food and cooking tumbled into true love.  I spent most of my year abroad wandering the city's winding back streets in search of Paris' best markets, cafes, bistros and bakeries.

After I graduated, I cut my culinary chops in Boston, notably at Temple Bar and the Westside Lounge in Cambridge, before running my own small cafe and catering business.

In 2001, I decided to return to Europe to study, travel, eat and cook.  I moved to Brussels where I got a master's degree in history and anthropology from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.  Between classes, I found the time to indulge in the country's many specialties, including amazing beer, world-class chocolate and the best waffles you'll ever taste.  I also honed my cooking skills working for a local catering company.

Since moving to Seattle, I have cooked at La Medusa and the Boat Street Kitchen, both of which believe in letting fresh, seasonal, local ingredients stand out in their cooking.  Susan Kaplan and Renee Erickson at the Boat Street have been especially wonderful teachers and mentors; their "simple, sturdy, luscious food" has definitely influenced my own style and sensibility.

When I'm not working, I can be found taking walks around my neighborhood on Capitol Hill, trawling thrift shops for buried treasure, snuggled up on the couch with my cat reading or knitting, or hosting fundraising dinners that benefit Women for Women International with my sweetie, John.