About Us
I graduated with honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1998. I believe that food should both nourish and excite the Soul. Food is my paint. I am trained in Global Cuisine. I am excellent with Vegetarian dishes, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asian and Brazilian cuisines.
How We Got Started
I started learning to cook in the 1970s when I was a vegetarian. Vegetarian cooking taught me how to season food. I grew up with vegetables coming out of our backyard garden, chickens running around the backyard, fruit from my grandmother's trees. I believe that food should nourish the body. Shortly after starting my vegetarian food cooking, friends start showing up at my home right at meal time. My culinary world expanded because I moved to in the Bay Area--home to Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. I had many friends who worked at Chez Panisse. I married a man whose father was a professional chef on the Southern-Pacific Railway. My husband studied cuisine in Europe and I learned from him. From 1996-1998 I studied at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. I graduated with Honors.
Recommendations Received (3)
"Veronica is great cook, well organized and can articulate your catering needs into an event your..."
Read more
"Veronica is great cook, well organized and can articulate your catering needs into an event your guests will long remember. "
"The Pear-Ginger sauce is special as is the Watermelon Jam"
Products & Services
I provide Personal Chef Services. You can come home from a long business day and have exquisite food in your refrigerator you just have to warm up...
1)If and when you want that elegant dinner party, please give me a call.
2) Don't like to cook or don't have time to cook but you want wonderf...
Gallery
Recommendations Given (3)
"Reggie is an awesome entertainer. He turns piano keys into magic!"
"Mr. Danfoura is an excellent attorney with expertise in family law and estate issues. In..."
Read more
"Mr. Danfoura is an excellent attorney with expertise in family law and estate issues. In addition, he is a broker. These were all of the issues I needed him to help sort out in a complicated real estate transaction. I very much appreciate his knowledge. Very sharp and to the point."
Recent Activity
No new hires at this time.
(more)
No new hires at this time.
In my early 20s I became what I honestly call an obnoxious organic vegetarian. If it wasn't "organic", I grew it myself. Becoming a vegetarian, I also quickly learned that I had to learn how to spice and flavor foods differently. Hence I learned how to use fresh herbs and spices to season my...
(more)
In my early 20s I became what I honestly call an obnoxious organic vegetarian. If it wasn't "organic", I grew it myself. Becoming a vegetarian, I also quickly learned that I had to learn how to spice and flavor foods differently. Hence I learned how to use fresh herbs and spices to season my foods. I also raised two sons during this period of my life. My sons are now in their mid-forties and they have both been extremely healthy their entire lives, even though we are no longer "obnoxious organic vegetarians".
I am not only a professional chef but also a pediatric registered nurse. Because of my vegetarian and (brief) vegan experiences, I learned how what you put in your mouth daily can determine the quality of your health and hence, the quality of your life. I have spent a lot of time during my professional career teaching both parents and kids about the true benefits of healthy living and healthy eating. Kids who don't eat vegetables--don't eat them because their parents don't eat them. Parents pass along their biases. I gave a co-worker a bottle of one of my vinaigrettes and when I next saw her, she told me that her children were now "fighting over the vegetables". Micronutrients and fiber come from vegetables. We need this daily.
So, my passion is to share my knowledge and experience so that I can improve the health of children--and maybe I can pick-up a parent or two. BTW, I am 69 years old and feeling GREAT!
Yes, there are holiday strolls where I live. My business is home-based, so I do not benefit from these strolls. My business does increase during holiday periods, especially specialty foods that I prepare: desserts, vinaigrettes, etc. I also do a series of cooking classes that make great gifts...
(more)
Yes, there are holiday strolls where I live. My business is home-based, so I do not benefit from these strolls. My business does increase during holiday periods, especially specialty foods that I prepare: desserts, vinaigrettes, etc. I also do a series of cooking classes that make great gifts or teach individuals how to give a memorable party event.
With my own business, I get to pursue my passion. Most people who go into the culinary business have limited knowledge about nutrition. I am also a pediatric nurse and here in the USA we have a severe obesity epidemic. I am very focused on trying to change this direction for our children. I've...
(more)
With my own business, I get to pursue my passion. Most people who go into the culinary business have limited knowledge about nutrition. I am also a pediatric nurse and here in the USA we have a severe obesity epidemic. I am very focused on trying to change this direction for our children. I've taught workshops at schools, to parent groups and teen groups. Your future health is determined by what you put in your mouth daily. Alas, many think that "healthy" food doesn't taste good. Take a class with me and I can change that attitude. I gave a bottle of my homemade salad dressing to a friend at work and a week later she told me "my kids are fighting over the vegetables now". I am currently teaching a weight loss workshop. About 6 months ago I did several classes for a young woman who wanted to learn how to cook for her 34 y.o. husband who was in heart failure. She called me a month ago and told me he no longer has heart failure.
If you give service, you should be paid for it. I have been invited to tasting events and they were delightful and paid for. You put out the time to develop a menu, prep and cook, presentation=get paid.
(more)
If you give service, you should be paid for it. I have been invited to tasting events and they were delightful and paid for. You put out the time to develop a menu, prep and cook, presentation=get paid.
Keeping up with my business paperwork has been my greatest challenge. I ran my business while working close to full-time as an RN.
(more)
Keeping up with my business paperwork has been my greatest challenge. I ran my business while working close to full-time as an RN.
I'm very good at what I do. If you want an exquisite dining experience for a special event--not just meat and potatoes, then I'm the chef you want. I'm not only good with food and its presentation but also I'm also about quality and creating the perfect ambiance.
(more)
I'm very good at what I do. If you want an exquisite dining experience for a special event--not just meat and potatoes, then I'm the chef you want. I'm not only good with food and its presentation but also I'm also about quality and creating the perfect ambiance.
I am an RN but my business on this site is culinary. What is your educational background? I have a BSN and Master's in Health Services Administration. Do you have any medical background training? Any healthcare management experience? Get to know your management team and what are their...
(more)
I am an RN but my business on this site is culinary. What is your educational background? I have a BSN and Master's in Health Services Administration. Do you have any medical background training? Any healthcare management experience? Get to know your management team and what are their roles/skills. I personally have always preferred to hang out with folks and learn what it is they actually do. At my first staff meeting when I worked for Kaiser, my staff was shocked when I asked them to tell me what specific issues you feel are of concern in your daily attempt to do your job. I wanted to hear from them and they had never had a manager ask them that question. If I were you I would look in to taking some classes in healthcare management. There are likely some classes offered where you work but I prefer classes outside of the institution where I work. Why? Classes within the institution will train you for what they specifically want. Outside classes will prepare you for a larger role--not just for one specific institution. Also, look for on-line courses or books.
I spent close to 20 years in management. What specialty clinic will you be working in? Cultivate a close relationship with your RNs because they are usually the ones who get the work done--set-up your protocols, annual skills testing, etc.
Hope this helps.
Veronica Boyd
1 Reply