For as long as I can remember, food has been a big part of my life! I grew up with local parents that moved to San Francisco and enthusiastically experimented with every ethnic cuisine available.  I’m sure that being from Hawaii and growing up in our own cultural melting pot was the foundation for their willingness to try everything. They were always pushing the kids to try new things and they never hesitated to try cooking them at home too! I have very fond memories of making home-made pizza, tearing into my mom’s fresh from the oven bread, my dad’s all day Chinese cuisine wok experiments, and just lot’s of home-made everything –so I guess it’s in my blood.

Moving back to Hawaii in my teens, I quickly acclimated to chili rice or chicken katsu plates (two scoops rice and mac salad, mmmmmmm).  But since I’ve become an adult,  I’ve shifted to being more health conscious, trying to strike a balance between eating right and exercising (I think I fall into the category of “exercise so I can eat what I want!”).  What I’ve found on my own cooking journey is that healthy food can taste great, and the occasional calorie splurge is just fine. 

I’ve been cooking for myself and loved ones for years,challenging myself with different ethnic cuisines, new ingredients and revamping old recipes to suite our modern-day tastes.  I really enjoy thinking about the way a dish will taste, how it will feel in your mouth (just as important as taste!), and how it will look on the plate.  All of these things are equally important. I’ve taken that wisdom and started a catering business,with private clients and now a healthy-food student lunch program for several schools!  I've also been the personal chef for KTA on the Big Island, developing recipes for them to share with their customers in their monthly publication. The opportunity to share my recipes with KTA shoppers over the last two years has been really exciting. And now, with my dinners to go program, I hope to reach out to those who enjoy great food but just don't have the time to cook! Twice weekly I'm cooking delicious and healthy home-cooked style meals for families to enjoy.

In addition to cooking healthy, I also strive to be as environmentally conscious as I can. In our kitchen, all of our green waste goes to a worn farm and all cardboard is composted. Our school lunches are all served using Styrophobia products too - NO styrofoam!  We also flatten all cans and strive to keep as much as possible out of Hawaii's limited landfill.  

I'm really looking forward to Cooking Fresh For You!