The City Kitchen is a boutique culinary event company and food blog based in San Francisco. It is a way for me to reach people in the Bay Area, to share recipes, knowledge and techniques and to make cooking and entertaining fun!

I grew up in a household full of parties. One of my earliest memories is of lying in my bedroom, listening to a backyard full of people laughing and talking into the wee hours. My mother is a gifted hostess and party planner, and my father loves to share wine from his cellar. From the time we were little, my brother, sister and I were taught how to pass hors d’oeuvres, fill wine glasses and know all about the Godiva chocolates served at the end of a party. My mother made dinner for our family every night and always let me help her in the kitchen. She supported my messes and creativity with a lot of laughter and hugs.

I started working in a professional kitchen when I was 16 years old, making pasta and bread for an Italian restaurant after school. I graduated from college with a Journalism degree and thought I wanted to be a food and travel writer. So, I went to The French Culinary Institute in New York City to learn serious techniques and fell in love with the kitchen all over again. I got two degrees from The FCI, a classic culinary degree and a pastry degree, and have worked at restaurants in Manhattan, Ithaca NY, Park City UT, and for a catering company in East Hampton.

By the time I moved to San Francisco 5 years ago I was tired of kitchen hours, cramped quarters and small paychecks. After completing a short wine program at The CIA in Napa, I started a little company called Mariposa Kitchen and began working as a private chef and caterer. About 2 years ago I started teaching cooking classes in my home and realized how rewarding it is to teach. Now Mariposa Kitchen has now grown into The City Kitchen with a full website, video food blog, recipe index and beautiful venues for cooking classes and private events.

I hope that you enjoy The City Kitchen as much as I do!