About Me
My Philosophy
I believe that our food nourishes us from the inside out. Our outer beauty, inner peace, and our physical, mental, and emotional health are all fueled by what we put into our bodies. I’m here to show you how delicious food can be healthy and healthy food can be delicious. So come join me on this food journey… let’s have fun in the kitchen creating something that tastes amazing and nourishes the mind, body and soul!
My Creations
I value simplicity and integrity, so I use organic and locally sourced ingredients both at home and at the Source Cafe. I avoid GMOs and soy, and stay away from excess gluten and sugar. I always love to find the simple and natural, yet delicious and nutritious alternative to old favorites that anyone, especially those with dietary restrictions and health challenges, can enjoy. My cooking style typically fuses the beauty and simplicity of a Mediterranean diet with my own creative health-inspired twist.
My Story
Excited about food from a young age, my path to the kitchen was inevitable. After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, I knew that being creative in the kitchen was my passion. I began my culinary training in Fort Collins, Colorado, and fell in love with the simplicity and passion of Southern Italian cuisine. After working with a well respected chef, I had the opportunity to move to Hermosa Beach, California to be the executive chef at his new restaurant, Mediterraneo. For almost ten years my business partner and I ran the restaurant successfully with no shortage of business and life lessons. It wasn’t until my last year at Mediterraneo that I discovered the deep healing powers of food.
After throwing myself into this passion; literally and figuratively, I reached my breaking point. After 15+ years as a chef, working long hours on my feet, without understanding the dangerous consequences of a constant state of high stress, limited sleep, and high expectations, my lack of proper self care turned out to be toxic for my mind and body.
With this realization, I spent time at a detoxifying spiritual retreat center where I gained life changing perspective. I began to understand how food, the thing I love to create, could be my medicine.
Determined to learn everything I could about the healing properties of food and turn my life around immediately, I armed myself with education and have continuously worked to create a life full of balance, healing, and nurturing. I work daily to bring my knowledge to others, with the intention of helping them change their lives as well, one bite at a time.