Hi! I’m Diane. I started this site as a passion project. I love to cook, entertain, travel and laugh. (Who doesn’t love a good laugh?) Of course, being from New York, sarcasm rules! I’ve spent my entire adult life in corporate America, working for other people and helping them achieve their goals. I’ve been in finance, advertising and all phases of digital marketing.
About 11 years ago, I started working for myself (kind of forced on me by the economy) but it created an opportunity for great personal growth. I dove head first into the online world of advertising and digital marketing with a specialty in the hospitality industry. I figured, I loved to travel and I had the marketing and sales background, so maybe this would be a good fit. It was. I love what I do. It is creative, incredibly challenging and changing all the time. But the thing I love most is that my clients are in the travel industry – one of my passions.
So where does cooking fit in? When I was kid, my favorite “toy” was my Easy Bake Oven. My mother would give me a box of Duncan Hines cake mix and I would proceed to make 200 tiny, mini cakes (all baked over a light bulb!). Sure, it took all weekend to get those cakes done, but the joy it brought my brothers and sisters was undeniable. They’d wait hours for one of those little cakes and pay me a nickel for each one!!!! I was running a “get rich scheme” in my bedroom! My Mom wasn’t a cook but my Dad loved to experiment in the kitchen (and leave the mess for my mother). He introduced us to “exotic” things like Lithuanian Stuffed Cabbage, potato pancakes, chocolate covered halva, Chinese Apples (I never heard the real name, Pomegranate until I was an adult.), pickled herring and more. In high school, I got my first taste of “restaurant” life and worked at Burger King. Don’t laugh. I learned some solid things about food prep, cleanliness, feeding a crowd and customer service.
Years later, there would be stints in many restaurants as a waitress, bartender and hostess. I worked in “The Hamptons” and in Manhattan at some pretty upscale restaurants. I was exposed to all kinds of high quality products that I had never tried before – pate, caviar, oysters and more. I learned about wine and cocktails and how to prepare them. That is where I learned how to make a great French Martini! All very important skills, don’t you think?
But some of the best training in the kitchen came from boyfriend’s mothers. I liked Italian men and their mothers were afraid their sons would starve to death if they dated me, LOL. What could an Irish/Lithuanian woman know about cooking??? So, into the kitchen they’d drag me (yes, there were multiple moms involved). Making “sauce” and learning how to make homemade pasta and meatballs were taught to me with loving care. I even had a landlord in New York, who taught me how to roll out homemade pasta dough and then cut and stuff Ravioli. It didn’t take long to figure out that all nationalities and all people love to eat. It doesn’t matter where I travel or what family I eat with; people really appreciate good food and the effort you put into making it. Cooking soon became one of my passions and a way for me to be creative.
When on a whim I submitted my recipe for Lollipop Lamb Chops with Pistachio Pesto and Pomegranate Seeds to KitchenAid for a contest and it won a place in it’s magazine, I knew I wanted to pursue sharing my love of food with all of you. Since then, I’ve had partnerships with major brands like Eggland’s Best, Sprout’s Market, ZenB pasta, Marukan Vinegar, Shipetaukin, Shawhan Farms, Flannery Beef and so many others. Whether I’ve created recipes for brands like Patricia and Paul Artisans of Fine Oils & Balsamics or have provided food photography for websites like Shawhan Farms, or have done social media posts for companies like Flannery Beef, I’ve done it with a passion I didn’t even know I had until I went to work as a creator and food blogger. I love what I do.
I’ve always worked hard for other people on their projects, their businesses and their successes. This site and blog is all about me. Selfish? Maybe, but since I’m sharing it all with you, I think I’m OK. It includes the things that bring me the most joy: travel, food and fun. I choose to laugh everyday and share my travels, discoveries and recipes with the hopes of inspiring you to create your own happy place. Welcome to mine!
Things you might like to know about me:
. I’m Irish and Lithuanian (yes, I’ve been to both countries).
. I’m originally from New York, lived in the Midwest for 10 years and now reside in Southern California.
. My best friends are still my childhood friends from grammar school and high school.
. My favorite people are my nieces and nephews.
. Ina Garten is living my life!
. My favorite place on earth is Montauk.
. I’m a digital marketer in the hospitality industry by day and a creator & cook by night.
. I read cookbooks like they are novels.
. At this stage in my life, I primarily cook healthy-ish meals for two, but leave lots of room for healthier and not so healthy treats!
. I have traveled extensively in the US for business and pleasure and have been to 44 states plus Washington, DC and the territory of Puerto Rico. I’ve also loved my travel overseas including stops throughout Europe, Russia, China and Hong Kong. But, I’m not done yet. I’m always planning my next adventure. Whether it is here in the States for a quick weekend getaway or a longer adventure in an exotic far off land, I’ll be sharing my travels here.
. Cooking is a way of traveling around the world right in my own kitchen. I love to try new cuisines and new foods and experiment all the time. I aim to eat healthy most of the time but never eliminate food groups. I often substitute lower fat, lower sugar and healthier ingredients for regular ingredients in my recipes, always in the hope of making small, positive changes in how I eat. While I normally cook healthy-ish meals for two, you’ll often find me entertaining family and friends so there will be recipes for that too.
. I work on creating balance in my life everyday. If I’m in balance, I eat well, travel often and enjoy life more. I rest and rejuvenate and I just breathe. Working hard and smart is easy for me. Relaxing and doing what I enjoy, takes work! I strive for balance but don’t always get there. Let’s just say I’m a work in process. So, stay tuned, check in often and stay in touch. This is going to be a fun ride!
