Welcome to Well Seasoned, a space that I hope brings you as much inspiration as it does me.

When I think of where my love for food began, I’m brought back to my 19-year-old self, chasing after a bus in NYC. My former boyfriend (now husband) was pulling me by the hand as I stumbled in a pair of heels across the cracked, uneven sidewalk. We were celebrating an anniversary, and the destination was Cafe Boulud on the Upper East Side. It was my first fine dining experience, in an age before Instagram, and I recall being so vividly mesmerized by the service… how could I not be? With each new course, I internalized more questions. What is an amuse bouche? How many forks do I actually need for one meal? And what on earth is branzino?

As fate would have it, that evening set into motion a lifelong passion. I ordered the unfamiliar branzino, which was incredible, but paled next to my husband’s trio of veal, a dish still memorable to me over a decade later. I discovered the glorious beauty that is a bread course! I paid close attention to the way the servers tip-toed around the dining room, as if moving in slow motion. And I left wanting more.

If craving good food is an addiction, that meal was my gateway drug. I was hooked! I discovered a love for trying new foods, and a deep appreciation for preparing meals myself. I delved into fresh pasta, homemade chicken liver mousse, and even began baking my own croissants. I was constantly looking for new ways to challenge myself in the kitchen, and ended up leaving grad school (where I was studying social psychology) to explore the food industry, even cooking at a premier NYC restaurant. It was there where I also learned about the importance of presentation, which lead to another passion within me I never knew existed: photography.

A lot has changed since then. I put my life on hold as our family grew (and grew and grew!), but never lost my joy or interest in good food and wine, or my desire to share it.

I’m not entirely sure how I ended up here, but I like the view. I believe that sharing food with those we cherish can lead to the most meaningful conversations and memories. I want to share my vision with you — from creating, to consuming, to photographing. Together, let’s eat beautifully.