I've just about tried it all. From grilled ostrich legs in South Africa, to fried octopus balls in Japan  - there's not a lot that intimidates my palate. But my adventurous appetite will never forget my first love: spaghetti and meatballs.

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  It's true: life has always been eclectic and delicious, but the path that led me here has been far from predictable. Born and raised in Miami, I brought my cabinet of spices to the University of Maryland with a semester stint abroad to explore the world on Semester at Sea. Post-college I brought the flavor to primary education as a second and third grade Reading Specialist with Teach for America, while cooking up a Masters in Education at the University of Miami. All the while I felt something bigger brewing; I was still hungry for more and knew it was time to feed my passion. So, I swapped out my teaching apron and threw on kitchen clogs. Off to the International Culinary Center in New York City I went! And believe it or not, I barely even knew how to boil an egg.

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      I have been savoring every bite since, from testing and developing recipes at Food Network and Saveur Magazine, marketing the New York City Wine & Food Festival, cooking at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, and teaching culinary demos at Campowerment, an Expert-led women's retreat. Now, to bring it full circle, I teach children's cooking classes at Freshmade NYC, a delicious cooking studio. OH, and through this process I met and married Corey, the man who stole my heart from spaghetti and meatballs...my Coco - the lucky guy who gets to taste my creations.

 

     In an attempt to package my adventures together, I have crafted a one-stop shop with my favorite recipes, cooking chronicles, and life takeaways. I hope to tickle your taste buds and inspire you to whip out those cutting boards and get chop'n, all while making you laugh and teaching you a thing or two about life and the pursuit of the best darn sauce. 

 

I guess you can call my experience...

The Whole "EL"chilada...