My love for cooking is deeply rooted in my childhood. I grew up in a household of twelve, and by the age of 11 or 12, I was already hooked on helping my parents prepare meals for our large family. I’ve always been particular about details—especially when it came to things like how vegetables were chopped for dishes like potato salad. My mom used to dice them a bit too large for my liking, so I began taking over that task—and that’s really where my passion for cooking began.​

I was fortunate to be surrounded by great cooks—my parents, and even our neighbors, could really throw down in the kitchen. I was curious, observant, and eager to learn. That early exposure to a variety of home-cooking techniques shaped the cook I am today.

Now as a parent myself, I’m proud to carry on that tradition. I’ve always wanted my kids to grow up enjoying the same kind of delicious, homemade meals I had—and I make it a point to prepare everything by hand, even down to chopping vegetables without a food processor.​

Cooking is more than a task for me—it’s therapeutic. I find genuine joy in preparing meals for others. Good food brings people happiness, and that’s what I love most about being in the kitchen.

My best advice? Watch and learn. That’s the real key to becoming a great cook.