After a long career in real estate, when it was time to switch gears, I moved towards what I have always loved most… learning, teaching and celebrating good health. I have always tried to achieve good health for myself, through food and movement. Sometimes doing better than other times, but never giving up!
It started in my grandmother’s garden where she grew beautiful seasonal fruits and vegetables for her family and her restaurant. Throughout my adult life, I have worked and played in the food industry, and for the most part it has been coaching people back to good health. Becoming a certified Natural Chef was the stepping stone that lead me to become a certified Olive Oil Sommelier. These two decisions have served me well because they have enabled me to do exactly what I love most…. continue to learn, share this knowledge to improve the lives of others. I’d say that a bonus to this is that I really enjoy collaborating with others along with connecting like minded people.
When I’m not developing new flavor profiles for a recipe by pairing different olive oils to a dish, I offer olive oil tasting classes. These often include pairings with the correct olive oil to demonstrate how the right ingredients, here it is olive oil, can take your food from a good bite to an absolute WOW factor! I’m found that people love learning how to distinguish the difference between an old fusty oil, that so many are using and a fresh, crisp, delicious extra virgin olive oil.
Recently I have added hosting retreats and I couldn’t be more excited. Typically, after I have visited a Olive Oil Harvest, either in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, a retreat will follow. This allows me to expose wonderful small producers that have fresh, delicious extra virgin olive oil to people who care about quality in their kitchen.
My heart is full knowing that there will be a day when I can pass this information onto my sweet little granddaughters, Madeleine Josephine and Oliva Caroline, as I see it coming full circle from where it all began with my Noni Carolina. I hope she is watching!