melissadavisfood
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Nov 2, 2007 (18 years) |
- | 1 | 0 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
Nov 2, 2007 (18 years)
- Last activity
- -
- Topics created
- 1
- Replies created
- 0
Bio
Growing up in an Italian family, I have always been surrounded by good food. Some of my best memories are centered around food.
I knew from the start that I wanted to be a chef. I joined the Navy with the promise of a great cooking school and career in food. After that experience I knew there was more to cooking than rehydration and opening #10 cans. I got a job cooking at a natural foods co-op, surrounded by like-minded beautiful people. I learned how to cook with fresh, organic, natural foods. There I met my husband and we fell in love over a cup of fresh northwest blueberries and a spelt blackberry scone. I had found my place.
With the birth of our first child, I felt the rush to get my schooling finished.
I attended Bastyr University, a wonderful natural medicine school and great inspiration. There I earned my Bachelors of Science in Nutrition. In the Whole Foods cooking class(no relation to the megamart store), my favorite class, I made a connection with the instructor, Cynthia Lair. She saw my passion and encouraged my growth.
Once finished with my BSN, my husband was offered an amazing job in Southern California and we accepted. Now, two years later, we are in Los Angeles, where I have landed into a wonderful opportunity to run our children's elementary school garden. It lay, unused and overgrown. I saw it a perfect chance to bring nutrition education, healthy eating, and a connection to the earth to urban children. The children and I have been growing and learning and it is wonderful to see their enthusiasm.
Another perfect opportunity fell into my hands while searching for a community of like-minded foodies. I came across the local chapter of the Weston Price Association, of which I had heard of while at Bastyr. I contacted the chapter leader to discuss her business, Real Cooking, which I had read about online and found amazing. We chatted for a bit and she ended up offering me a job. I have been working for her ever since, preparing meals for families who don't have the time or passion to make high quality food. It has been a wonderful job, working with the best quality ingredients, most often times directly from the farmers market. I have made relationships with the local farmers and ranchers and feel so connected. I think this is the way it is suppose to be.
Everywhere I go I look for food opportunities. I guess it is in my blood and I feel so lost without it. I think I spent at least half of each day planning, shopping, preparing or just thinking about what food I am going to make next. I find inspiration everywhere I turn. From the fruit vendor on the corner to the lady selling fresh tamales out of a shopping cart rolling through my neighborhood, from the traditional compleano festa at our friend's house to conversations overheard at the farmers market.
My life is food and I am happy to be where I am today, sharing with others and doing what I love so.