Living upstairs over the family restaurant, I began waitressing at the ripe old age of 9.  While other kids were out riding their bicycles and climbing trees I was in the kitchen with either my mom or my grandmother cutting my culinary teeth. Coming from a long line of accomplished cooks, I quickly discovered a natural affinity for the ethnic cooking my Mimi favored and the comfort foods my Mom loved.

I was born in the Midwest but spent most of my adult life in New Orleans, and immediately fell in love with the gastronomic pleasures the Crescent City’s great culinary history had to offer. I  attended the Tampa Bay Culinary Academy as well as too many other cooking classes to mention in places I have visited over the years. I read cookbooks like most people read novels and it isn’t unheard of for me to do a happy dance when an anticipated cookbook arrives on the front porch.

I have come full circle from my waitressing days.  My love of food and cooking resulted in the opening of Foodies, my cooking school in St. Petersburg, Florida five years ago.   My mantra is “Doable and Delicious” and I try to impart this  philosophy to all who attend cooking classes at Foodies.