Growing up in the wilds of western Canada where restaurants, still a good distance from my home, were limited to barely mediocre Chinese and the odd sandwich shop, my mother, a transplant from the city, realized that if you wanted good food in the middle of the woods you had to make it yourself. She grew a huge organic garden that we kids lived in all summer and she purchased meats and dairy from surrounding farms. Watching her harvest, preserve and prepare our bounty each year, making incredible meals for family, friends and sometimes strangers was a great inspiration for me.

After my childhood in Canada I lived in NYC for 17 years, working and eating in many amazing restaurants and being exposed to a broad range of culinary styles. Witnessing food trends and chefs rise and fall, I learned from it all. In my travels I was always the first one to the local markets: smelling the spices in Morocco, watching men tenderize octopus on the rocks by the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea, gently placing my hands over the fresh soft warm mounds of cheese in Oaxaca. Discovering new and curious things about food and cultures and foreign flavors and ingredients; diverse techniques and preparations; customs and traditions from across the globe - is my passion.

I love food and the sense of celebration and community it brings. I am very excited to be living in San Antonio and feel honored to bring what I have to offer to this community.