Taking a leap

I grew up eating family dinners around the table that my mom cooked. Whether it was a simple dish she threw together or a recipe that she had, it was always the perfect way to bring us together and slow down a little bit. Good food is meant to be enjoyed with no stress and at the speed you want it to be. My goal is to make tasteful memories for my guests to slow down and experience restaurant quality food in the comfort of their home.

My backstory 

As a kid I was always watching Food Network and trying new recipes to cook or bake. Being a chef was always a dream job but it never seemed practical. After high school, I studied abroad in Italy as homesickness took over. I could always turn to food to inspire me. COVID hit and I returned back home to figure out what I really wanted to do. What was intended as a gap-year became my passion— at Colorado Mountain College. At the time, classes were still online so I was working on prerequisites and I decided to get a baking job at a local coffee shop. That’s when I hit the ground running because I enjoyed working and cooking. I was eager to do more because most chefs I know started their career as soon as they could. I got a job at the only fine-dining restaurant in town as a pantry and pastry cook. Cooking and baking was something that excited me.

In April 2021, I moved to Vail to begin in-person culinary classes and I got a job in the kitchen at one of the best restaurants in Vail, Mountain Standard. That's when everything changed. In the kitchen, you either sink or swim and I was determined to swim. I was surrounded by people who have 5-plus years of experience and I am a sponge for learning culinary skills because there is so much to learn. I started at the raw bar station shucking oysters and I learned all the basics and fundamentals of prep work and staying organized. Throughout the next two years, I worked hard and put my head down and was able to know and work all the stations in the kitchen. While asking questions and watching my Chef team meticulously and efficiently work, I wanted to be in a chef position. However, what I lack compared to other chefs is experience inside professional kitchens and that comes with time and sacrifices. Luckily food is learned in more ways than just cooking for big groups of guests behind the scenes. Mountain Standard taught me more than I thought I could learn in one kitchen and I will be forever grateful for the chefs and friendships I gained. Leaving was out of my comfort zone but in order for me to grow and learn I had to push myself to be uncomfortable. I finished with an associates degree in culinary arts in 2023

As I go on this culinary journey I can continue to push myself and be creative by cooking and doing what I love. I want to put all my time and effort into perfecting my craft and pushing my personal creativity to new levels.