personal chef

Sweet Summertime

Hey there!

I don't know about you, but I am loving all of the beautiful produce this summer! Lately, I've been inspired to make some wonderful things after a quick visit to the Farmer's Market or my local Whole Foods.  Just this morning I picked up some watermelon radishes and carrots to make into a pickled topping for some Bahn Mi sandwiches! 

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Tart with Fresh Mango🍴

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Tart with Fresh Mango🍴

A few other favorites I've made the last couple weeks include this Fresh Mango Tart, Wild Sockeye Salmon with a Browned Butter Honey Garlic Sauce and Plum Galettes using fresh plums from my neighbors tree! 

What are some of your favorite summertime treats? 

Pottery Barn Summer Preview Event

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of providing hors d'oeuvres for Pottery Barn's Summer Preview event.  It was a great event and so fun to meet new people, while checking out Pottery Barn's new summer selections!  A big thank you to Danya Collyer for getting me involved and extending the invitation!  Williams Sonoma also provided small bites and there was a lovely lemonade bar set up in the back of the store! 

I made four different small bites and wanted to give you all a peek!

~ Caesar Salad in Parmesan Cups 

~ Chocolate Truffles dusted with Sea Salt and Carnation Petals 

~ Strawberry & Basil "Bruschetta" drizzled with Balsamic Reduction 

~ Mini Creme Brulee Ramekins with Candied Carnation Petals 

The caesar salad cups and the truffles were the hit of the day! 

The caesar salad cups and the truffles were the hit of the day! 

Why Coming Home?

"Comin' Home" by City and Colour is one my favorite songs.  Dallas Green, the lead singer, has an excellent voice and I started listening to him about 6 years ago, right after I had moved to Monterey from Montana.  Ian, my now husband, and I had just started to get to know one another and we began talking about music and our mutual interest in Dallas Green. That conversation stemmed into talks about food and travel and we began to realize how much we had in common. We still love City and Colour, we've even seen them in concert in 3 different cities!

Thoughts of home place me walking into my house in high school, instantly smelling a fire in the fireplace and being greeted by my yellow Lab, Shiloh. My mom would spend Sundays preparing meals for the rest of the week and the house always smelled amazing. Home is where you can be yourself, where you can relax, where comfort is paramount. Home is being surrounded by the people you love, in a place where you can just be real. Oh and definitely a place with delicious food! 

Being with Ian felt like coming home. Honest, real, comfortable.  This business is a true representation of who I am.  I want it to be a thing of comfort.  I want to provide meals that conjure up people's memories of their mom's chicken soup that warmed them on cold winter days. Or memories of a delicious meal they had while dining with their closest friends. Cooking for me isn't work, I love it.  Being in the kitchen, stirring something bubbling on the stove while listening to music, is where I feel at home. 

You might not always have the time to prepare nutritious meals that are full of flavor and taste great, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't love to come home to them. Let me take care of preparing your meals, all you need to do is provide the memories! 

Ian and I on our wedding day!

Ian and I on our wedding day!