My inspiration for cooking came from my grandmother. Some of my fondest memories were watching her stir up wonderful ethnic dishes in the kitchen. As a child, my favorite book was Stone Soup!   

I always aspired to work in the culinary field, but my “bread and butter” became a career in marketing. While juggling a job in New York City, I attended Peter Kump’s Cooking School (now the Institute of Culinary Education) and devoured cooking magazines in my spare time.

I eventually traded a demanding job to be at home with my kids, but my culinary passion never waned. After seeing my budding chefs eager to help in the kitchen, I decided to teach some weekend baking classes to other kids.  The children were completely engaged and it was equally rewarding to help them develop an essential life skill.  

Realizing there was a need to fill, I launched Mix It Up Kitchen and found my dream job. With a team of passionate chefs, the kitchen has evolved into a full service offering for both kids and adults.

I hope the kitchen is a place where people of all ages can unplug, celebrate good food, and feel inspired!  Oh, and those two budding chefs are now teenagers who are helping me in the kitchen!