I grew up in the South, where the culture is centered on the home and more specifically, the kitchen. I quickly developed a strong passion for food at a young age. My earliest memories involve food — standing on a stool while my Grandmother rolled and cut buttermilk biscuits, the taste of raw dough, the crunch of my Grandfather’s pickled cucumbers, afternoons eating sardines and pasta salad with my sister (yes, we were a little strange but I stand by the combo), a Summer day at the beach and the first bite of a smoked salmon bagel (try it. don’t even dry off from the ocean. the cream cheese + smoky salmon + crunchy onions + salty capers + chewy bagel = perfection), too many times to count of our family sitting down to breakfast only to talk about what we would eat for lunch — I could go on and on but you probably get it, food is everything.

Similar to most twenty-somethings, I bounced around between a few jobs before deciding to follow my passion and landed the Operations Manager position at Chicago’s Green City Market. While in Chicago, I worked with some of the country’s leading farmers, chefs, and community organizers to strengthen the local food system. In addition to my time at Green City Market, I joined Urban Juncture Foundation in efforts to expand food access and community revitalization.

Full of gratitude for my experiences in Chicago, I realized I needed to get my hands dirty. In Fall of 2018, I attended the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, Ireland. Ballymaloe is situated on a 100-acre organic farm and the experience not only gave me the confidence to approach a wide range of recipes, but also deepened my appreciation for how food is produced and the power of food in building strong communities.

Currently, I live in Saxapahaw, NC with my partner, Joel, and our two pups. It’s always evolving but at the moment I define myself as a cook and baker inspired by farmers, past travels, and the natural world around me. If you’ve made it this far, I’m sure we’re kindred spirits with food always on the mind. I look forward to meeting you, filling your table and having a hand in creating long-lasting food memories for you and yours!

~ kathleen (kates)