I moved to San Diego County in 2007 when I attended San Diego State University, and where I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Foods & Nutrition. Upon graduation in 2011, I decided not to continue with a dietetic internship and went on to attend Grossmont College, where I later graduated in 2013 with my Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts. From that point on, I continued on my culinary journey and have been cooking ever since. My father was a chef as well and when I was a child, he would bring me to the restaurants where he worked and would always give me delicious food to eat. Watching him cook at his job and at home was where my passion for food and cooking originated from. I have very fond memories with my younger brother and cousins during my childhood, where I pretended to use our home kitchen as my own restaurant and created my own menus with notebook paper and crayons. I would offer and serve anything that I was able to make at that time, from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to cups of ramen noodles. Ironically, I didn’t have any interest in being a chef as a child, but it wasn’t until after I graduated from college was when I revisited the idea and decided to pursue a career in that field. I can honestly say that I am extremely grateful that I chose to chase my dreams, because I am here today because of it!
