Feeding myself and others is my happiness. However its about more than just food to fill your belly. I want my passion to extend further; share what I’ve learned and what I love most about food and encourage others to take in all the moments that often happen around food and because of food. How it makes us feel, our memories around food, how it fuels our overall health and how it brings people and life together.  I have had the great fortune to learn recipes and techniques from many wonderful people as well as piles upon piles of splatter-stained, dog-eared books since childhood.  My love of food started very young as did an interest in travel. My first trips to Europe opened a floodgate of curiosity about food that has never been contained and has kept me curious, hungry and travelling as much as possible. Learning recipes and technique alone isn’t always enough, I love the immersive experience that surrounds food. Understanding ingredients and technique is essential, but discovering more, beyond the obvious, preconceived or assumed is important to me. I research endlessly, study old cookbooks, travel and luckily stumble upon amazing people who are much wiser and more experienced. This is how I best understand food culture and food history, and why I appreciate both so much. It is what pushes me to be better in the kitchen. Its the recipes and ingredients, memories of taste and time. I am genuinely curious and eager to always learn more and share it all with others. 

I want to share my own knowledge and experience but perhaps more importantly share what the many wonderful people, mostly women, have taught me. They have taught me their recipes and methods, how to garden and grow, preserve and appreciate. The have shared life wisdom, impressed upon me the importance of finding romance and pleasure in as much of life as possible. How to endure struggle with grace and tenacity. They quietly trusted me with their tips and ideas. Shared things passed down from generations. Most importantly they taught me a foundation for being a distinct woman. Living well but simply, being confident and defiant (when necessary) and sharing abundantly. Much of my life at this stage is a reflection of these incredible teachers. Its not a secret that in my own way I’m trying to replicate them; their fortitude, humility, love, authenticity, knowledge, grace and joy.

A little long winded? Let’s proceed succinctly.

• I love to travel, Italy has my heart most of the time. But Wales, Scotland, and well the whole of the EU really contends in my mind and heart as well. I quietly live a small town country life in Prince Edward County. I grew up here and much to my surprise moved back and started a business, and then another! Its a supportive community that wraps me in warmth.

• I currently own Piccolina Mercato & Bar in Wellington. I envision and create food business. Piccolina is my third.

• I take pictures; amateurishly at best. 

• I love the mountains, quiet country landscapes and wandering smaller places. I’ll take brisk air to sweltering heat.

• I read… ALOT and collect a mildly obsessive amount of books. I need to hold actual books and newspapers in my hands.

• I love animals, all animals, often more than people.

Music is necessary to living well. I have no genre bias but more importantly how does it make me feel what does it make me think about… not all songs have impact.

• You’ll typically find me… working, ALOT. It can be exhausting and exhilarating in equal proportion but I get to meet great people, work out ideas, try new things, fail, make mistakes and try again.

• I do take time to rest. Content to sit at a quiet bar or watch old movies. I indulge myself with some simple luxuries. Good food, romantic hotels, books, antiques…

• Although appreciative and fortunate to find bliss in solitude, I also love spending time with my friends; a pretty insanely talented and generous group of women (and some pretty wonderful men) that encourage, support and make me laugh.

Please reach out with any questions or comments via email or Instagram