I started working in kitchens as a little girl helping my cousins wife at his tavern. Because I was too young to serve at the bar, I was allowed to work in the kitchen once the crowd started picking up. Early in the day when there was just a few customers, I was allowed to serve at the bar, but when they started getting intoxicated and the crowd picked up, I was sent to the kitchen with my cousins wife. Once it got too late, I would go to my grandparents house just up the street.
Once I reached 16, I started looking for jobs and started working in restaurants. I found I was good at cooking and customer service. I graduated in 1990 and started a family in 1991. I had to learn to cook so I would call my grandmother, father, and mother to figure out how to make dishes I needed to learn. I also took advice from my children's father family. Next thing I know, I was cooking for all the holidays and family gatherings.
Once I was on my own, I would sale plates from my house. I then started working in a bar as a server where I was the most requested server, next I moved to the bar as a bar tender. Some of the clientele and friends of the owner had purchased some plates from me and knew how well I cooked. They kept telling the owner to put me in the kitchen. I asked could I use my own seasonings. From there people started asking about catering their parties. The kitchen started making a great profit.
Next, I moved to Ohio where I started going to school for culinary arts. I graduated top of my class. I had to move back home where I have been in general management and hospitality management every since.
