Favorite quote
Good Is The Enemy Of Great!
About
I spent the first 50 years of my life on the East Coast—from Maryland all the way down to Florida—where I developed a deep appreciation for history, humidity, and the ongoing mystery of why a truly great lobster roll can be so hard to find. In 2016, my family and I packed up and moved to Reno, Nevada. I like to say it was for the mountain views, but honestly, I suspected the elevation might make my wine taste even better. Science is still reviewing my findings. By 2018, I decided “semi-retirement” sounded much more impressive than “I’d like a job where people hand me wine,” so I began working part-time at a winery. I now have more wine certifications than I have matching socks, and I still happily join the harvest crew whenever I can—because apparently, spending a day covered in grape juice is my idea of seasonal recreation. Before entering the wine world, I spent 22 years working in restaurants as a chef and server. That experience taught me the importance of hospitality, attention to detail, and always going the extra mile—occasionally because I had misread the ticket and was desperately trying to catch up. These days, I also teach cooking classes, which is a wonderful opportunity to share what I know, convince people that culinary chaos is part of the process, and occasionally remind everyone that smoke is not always a sign of failure. My love of travel began about 15 years ago and quickly became one of the great joys of my life. Since then, I have had the privilege of exploring remarkable places, meeting fascinating people, and sampling enough local cuisine to make “just one more bite” a recurring travel philosophy. Whether I am wandering through a historic city, discovering a hidden restaurant, or trying to decipher a train schedule in a language I do not speak, every journey reminds me that the world is far too interesting to stay home—and far too delicious to travel without stretchy pants.
Hobbies & Interests
• Sharing what I have learned in the kitchen with others in my cooking classes, with the hope that my guests will take the recipe and make it their own! • Researching and studying for my next personal or work trip is exciting; much of the thrill lies in the hunt. • Working out is an essential part of my daily routine, typically completed by 7:30 AM. This practice helps set a positive tone for the rest of my day, and I also make it a point to work out while I'm traveling. When I am not crazy exhausted from a 14-hour day on tour.
Fun Fact
Until 2018, I competed in 12 Spartan Races, including 2 World Champion Beast races at Squaw Valley. I finished that last race at Squaw in 6.5 hours.
Destination Experience
Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Charleston, St. Augustine, Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles, Napa, Sonoma, Virginia City NV, Grand Canyon, Jerome AZ, Prescott AZ, Hoover Dam