SPIRITED OFFERINGS
Private
Chef
Whether a private meal experience for a special occasion or a meal plan for a multi-day retreat, my depth of food knowledge and love of seasonal, locally-resourced ingredients will bring delight to both eye and palate!
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With many years of catering, event planning, and cooking experience in places from open fields to grand mansions to unfinished office buildings, I create meals and events from 2 to 2,000 guests. Whether a private meal experience for a special occasion or a meal plan for a multi-day retreat, my depth of food knowledge and love of seasonal, locally-resourced ingredients will bring delight to both eye and palate!
In our busy lives, we often don’t have the time to make or eat the healthy foods our bodies crave. I have extensive knowledge of alternative diets and can formulate meal plans and the associated shopping and preparation so you are fueling your body with the most tempting combination of comfort and power foods as part of the basis of your joyful, sustainable life.
Group/Private Instruction
I love nourishing people and teaching...empowering people with the magic of creating beautiful, delicious food and exquisite drink, celebrating its’ origins and terroir, and creating experiences that can be truly life-changing.
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Teaching is my passion.
Guiding people through the wonders of food, spirits, and wine; the history, how it is grown or produced, choosing the best ingredients for the dish and situation, and adding the touches in flavour or presentation that elevate a meal to its’ best potential…this is my happy place and where I shine.
I have experience teaching both adults and children, designing single and multiple-day sessions based on a theme, food or beverage type, or creating the class as a team- building or family and friends experience.
In your kitchen, your office, or in a space we convert for the day, let’s cook together!
Spirits & Food Pairings
Sensory experiential learning and fun! I create a knowledgeable exploration of a specific spirit either just as a tasting, or incorporate food pairings in the way of small bites or a full meal.
Experiential learning and fun – after a long pandemic lockdown, we have learned that having in-person shared experiences is not to be taken for granted.
This is particularly true of sensory events where we smell and taste and synergistically define our experience with like-minded enthusiasts.
Either on my own or with another spirits or food geek, we can create a knowledgeable exploration of a specific spirit either just as a tasting, or incorporate food pairings in the way of small bites or a full meal.
Seriously, can you think of many things that are (legally) much more fun?
Keynote Speaking & Writing
Either speaking or writing, touching people’s imaginations and fueling their curiosity is my specialty. Experience and education in diverse fields has resulted in a wealth of business knowledge and fodder for inspiring, motivating, and bringing people together.
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A review of my resume reveals management experience in hotel, restaurant, food truck, catering, event and wedding planning, food production, project management, site operations, construction projects and interior design, sales, and software implementation. On the other side of my brain, I have almost 20 years’ experience in several industries as a controller, systems and processes developer, marketing strategist and personal assistant to fascinating people.
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All of this adds up to a wealth of business knowledge and life lessons learned the hard way. Regardless of the basic topic chosen for the presentation, using clear, accessible language, anecdotes and real-life examples, I can hold a room’s attention and have each attendee leave with something that has uniquely piqued their interest and curiosity while ensuring the message of the presentation is clearly communicated.
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In the same way, I write content to convey facts, but using humour, anecdotes and wordscaping to help make the concepts stick in the reader’s mind. I am a relentless researcher, and ensure the facts have provenance. If pure inspiration is what you are after, I have an empath’s mind and heart, and can find words to convey depth and breadth of emotion and concept. I have written articles, blogs, speeches, posts (and many a greeting card) for both personal and business purposes, and am happy to write for or co-create with you.
Hospitality Business Coaching
From startup to re-imagination, I am happy to work with you to bring your dream into reality, to help assess what might need to be changed for optimum viability and return, and to use both practical and creative ways to make every moment you contribute to your business meaningful and successful.
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Drawing on my education and experience detailed above, I have been coaching businesses for over 10 years, first getting the numbers in place, then defining goals, perceived and actual ‘return on investment’ from personal and business-needs perspectives, then creating marketing strategies and long-term financial and strategic planning to attain those goals and the desired return on investment.
Although I have worked in industries from private power production to trucking logistics, my first love and focus is the hospitality industry in all of its’ beautiful, terrible inspiration and imperfection.
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Sometimes all that is needed is an extra set of eyes, a fresh perspective, and an unconventional imagination to help make something happen. I am a synergistic facilitator and a natural catalyst. Change is a challenge...allow me to help you shine!
To
Come...
"So You Want to Open A...."
From Concept to Reality, online courses to help you plan and operate your hospitality business.
Online learning has become a way of life for all of us, and has the advantage of flexibility to accommodate our busy schedules and learning styles.
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These courses will provide basics in concept clarification, location choice, operations design, financing and accounting basics, physical plant design, marketing and customer relations, goal setting and performance assessment so you can adjust goals and systems to create a sustainable and successful business operation.
Under development...