Welcome to My Table
Here’s a forking truth: The best meals happen when nobody’s checking their phone, the wine flows freely, and someone inevitably tells the story that makes everyone snort-laugh into their napkins. Not the stiff, formal kind of dinner party where you’re afraid of using the “wrong fork,” but the kind where you kick off your shoes, pour something delicious into a glass, and let the night unfold bite by bite, laugh by laugh.
For me, food has always been the starting point—not the destination. It’s the spark that ignites conversation, the backdrop for memories, the way we celebrate milestones both big and small. I believe recipes are more than instructions on a page. They’re the scents that linger after a holiday, the comfort that greets you after a hard day, the stories that unfold between bites.
But before I teach you my way of cooking, let me back up.
A Little About Me
I didn’t go to culinary school. I didn’t inherit a treasure box of family recipes guarded for generations. I’m not a trained chef. I’m a real person who fell in love with what happens when good food meets real life.
Case in point: I met my now-husband during a college food fight at Indiana University. One airborne meatball led to a first date, which led to me (naively) serving toasted bologna on little bread rounds, cross-legged on a dorm room floor. Classy? Not exactly. But that’s where my cooking story began.
The real turning point came when Richard, my then-boyfriend, gifted me Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I cooked my way through it in a tiny Bloomington apartment with a four-person card table as my “dining room.” My dinner parties were chaotic, joyful, and wildly imperfect—and I loved every second.
Since then, my kitchen education has been self-taught through trial, error, and more than 100 cookbooks scribbled with notes. I’ve studied Ina Garten, James Beard, and Martha Stewart like gospel. I’ve hosted everything from quiet dinners for two to soirées for thirty-five. I’ve learned to cook for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free guests, and shellfish allergies—all at the same table. And now I’m here to teach you how to do the same.
The “Teach a Person to Fish” Approach
There’s an old proverb that says: Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime. I believe the same is true for cooking.
If I simply handed you a list of recipes, you might cook them once. But if I teach you the why behind the recipe—the skills, the shortcuts, the confidence—you’ll be able to feed yourself, your friends, and your family for the rest of your life. You’ll cook through every phase: the broke college years, the “I’m too busy” career years, the “we have kids and no time” years, and the “empty nest but full house on holidays” years.
Cooking is a skill that never expires. Once you’ve learned it, it serves you—literally—for life.
Why Cooking Matters (More Than Ever)
Let’s be real: takeout is easy. But it’s also expensive, often loaded with processed ingredients, and rarely as nourishing as something you make at home. Learning to cook means:
But beyond that, cooking brings you back to something real. It’s hands-on, sensory, and grounding in a world that’s increasingly digital and rushed.
When you know how to cook, you open the door to more than just your kitchen—you open your home. You start inviting people over “just because.” You host birthday dinners, impromptu brunches, or Tuesday night tacos.
You make new friends around your table. You strengthen bonds with family. You create memories that last far longer than the meal itself.
Cooking shifts your lifestyle from being dependent on restaurants to finding joy in your own home. You control the menu, the vibe, and the guest list. You don’t have to “go out” to have an experience—you create the experience.
It Isn’t Just About Food—It’s About Laughter, Connection & Confidence
Three weeks. One session per week. Four hours of hands-on magic each time. This isn’t just about going through the motions—it’s about really understanding techniques that will last a lifetime of cooking. Start wherever you need—complete beginner in Series 1 or jump into advanced techniques if you’ve got the basics down. We’ll help you find your perfect starting point.
You’re not just learning to cook—you’re mastering the art of hosting. Table setting, timing strategies, menu planning using organizational tools, and creating unforgettable experiences for your people – plus you get to eat everything you make.
Complete all six series? You’ll graduate with 72 hours of real kitchen and hosting experience, plus a celebration party that’ll make you feel like the culinary rockstar you’ve become.
Instruction tailored to exactly what you want to learn – at your own pace and focus
We respect your privacy.
We don’t just teach recipes—we build confidence, connection, and real results.
This was the best class I’ve ever taken — fun, relaxing, and so rewarding. I left with new skills and a huge smile.
I never thought I’d say this, but I love baking now. The hands-on approach and friendly vibe made it feel so doable and real.
Such a cozy, welcoming experience. The instructor was kind and clear, and I learned more in one session than from hours online.
I was nervous at first, but the class made everything so simple and fun. I actually baked something I’m proud of — and it tasted amazing!
