My personal culinary journey began the same as most kids, crawling around our family kitchen and watching my mom & dad cook. My parents both worked, but back in the early 60's, beef and chicken were expensive luxuries for our family. However my mom and dad were not only resourceful, but equipped with the unique and handy skill of scuba diving. We lived on the beach, so our food was both free and easy to come by!

For several years, most of our meals consisted of what my parents could either reel in, or shuck from the ocean. We might have dined on lobster or freshly smoked albacore, or bouillabaisse, but I remember being the only kid who ate what other children wouldn’t dare to explore. Trust me, I had my fair share of PB&J sandwiches too, but I seemed to acquire an adventurous and curious palate early on.

It was in the early ‘90s, however, after attempting many different careers, that I found myself in San Francisco. As a national sales executive for an importer of European pastry ingredients, I learned of fine chocolate and confections. It was then that my infatuation with food truly blossomed, as I worked side-by-side with some of the most-talented chefs in the country. They were highly skilled imports from Europe as well as young talent from the cities, all with extraordinary flair for artistic creation and an exuberant passion for their trade.  

I spent the next few years exploring food history, while selling gourmet ingredients that I could hardly pronounce. I learned of exquisite cheeses, colorful produce, artisan breads; wine, caviar and foie gras. For work, I coordinated weddings and banquet events. I managed hotel restaurants and hospitality consulting gigs where-ever I could find them.  I was content, just being exposed to it all, when in late 1999, my career took a spin in a different direction. I was hired to co-host a #1-rated PBS television show in Southern California called “Let’s Dine Out”.  

A perfect match to my generally outspoken and critical nature, this restaurant and food review show proved a unique opportunity to share my opinions. I critiqued hundreds of restaurants over a six-year period. My dining partner and I traveled extensively, eating our way through each city with glorious pleasure and fascination.  I ate literally thousands of dishes, along the way refining my palate and increasing my knowledge of food history, diverse cultures and their cuisine.  I became known as the "Food Chick" and truly enjoyed the once in a lifetime opportunities that came along with being a t.v. personality. Today, I still enjoy contributing food writing and critiquing, but have paused in order to pursue bringing others closer to the dream.

I have met hundreds of chefs in my career, and surprisingly many of the best are self-trained from their love of food and passion for exploring the creative world of cooking.This is why I bring Haute Chefs to you.

Because it is never too late to begin a new journey of exploring the world of cuisine!  
And, what better way to begin, than in your own kitchen!