A story about personal growth.
My love of food doesn’t necessarily have an origin story. I could say my grandma taught me everything I know like most stories, but that’s not true — I taught myself.
I started working in restaurants at the age of 14. I worked my way up the entire food chain. At a young age, started with busser, dishwasher, hostess, food runner, waitress, bartender, grill girl and food prep. After highschool, I went off to college and continued this immersion into what our food system is. Started working for Whole Foods Market in college helping all departments. This led me to interning at non-profits in the area facing food insecurity and allowed me to finish my degree in Biomedical Nutritional Science + Health Promotion from Michigan State University.
After College, I landed a job launching Urban Remedy throughout the Pacific Northwest. I traveled all around sharing the healing benefits of Ayurvedic ready-to-eat recipes, organizing fundraisers and events with MeWater Foundation + Friends of Trees while also learning about regenerative farming practices through a Kiss the Ground partnership and expanding my knowledge by becoming certified in Sustainable Supply Chains through University of Cambridge. After 60,000 miles of travel in two years, it was time to take a break. I received a Raw Chef Certification in Ubud, Indonesia (my type of “break”) and came back to the U.S. to start managing and expanding a non-profit farmers market for two years while bartending on the side. Small business development became a main focus and I found out that I love supporting others in their business endeavors, then funding viability led me to a new path that I am now on. I currently work full-time at Snow Peak Campfield while operating Dine Wabi Sabi.
A more personal story…
While I was diving deep trying to help others thrive, I was not thriving myself. I have suffered from pretty extreme psoriasis covering my entire body, cystic acne, intense menstrual cycles, anxiety, depression and eating disorders during all of this time I was trying to help others heal. My food is a reflection of this time that I spent diving deep into my own healing journey — whether that be mental, physical or spiritual. Through this journey, I continue to learn more everyday about myself, my abilities and what I would like to bring to this world. No, I’m not “fully” healed, whatever that looks like, but I sure have learned a lot about releasing limiting beliefs, ideas and perceptions — all of which directly correlate to your health and well-being.
So here I am, ready to share the art, the creativity, the idea, the beauty, the vibrancy and the happiness that real food brings to the table. Food that is from soils cared for so deeply. Food that is blessed even with a small “thank you.” Food that doesn’t have a label or a slogan. Food that allows you to show up for the ones you love. Food that brings you closer to others. Food that lets you love yourself. Food that is real and raw.