I love to cook, but more than that, I love cooking with my friends and family. I love that an incredible meal can transform a typical night into a magical one.

My favorite memories are food memories: preparing, eating, drinking, discovering. I love the conversations that evolve in the kitchen while stirring the pot or mincing the garlic. Our guests never sip their cocktails in the sunroom as intended, but instead sit at the kitchen counter watching, learning, laughing and sharing their own cooking war stories.

It is because of this food passion that I quit my job in retail and enrolled in The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Since graduation, I have interned at Food and Wine Magazine and worked the line in the kitchen at Tappan Hill, a catering venue run by the esteemed Abigail Kirsch.

In 2014, I founded The Balaboosta Chef, where I thrive on the idea of social cooking – a place where food brings people together. An opportunity to learn the best tips, tricks and tools to cook for your friends and family with confidence and ease. Cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating. By learning tried and true tested recipes, YOU can be the Balaboosta in your house, too!