Playing In The Kitchen
I am a private chef. My love of cooking is deep-rooted. I was born into the food service industry. From an early age, I developed a passion for food. I loved spending time in the kitchen with my mother and grandmothers, as they taught me the fundamentals of preparing and cooking food. For generations, both sides of my family have owned restaurants. I grew up immersed in the fast-paced environment of both my grandparents and my father’s restaurant. I enjoyed watching and learning the business side from my father. My early exposure to fine dining with my food-loving family and being a Washington, D.C. native, sparked my passion for all things food-related and was instrumental in inspiring my cooking profession and fostering a strong work ethic.
Having a grandmother that was an artist, gave me a front-row seat into the life of a designer and creator. Not only was my grandma Hilda an accomplished painter, she was also an incredibly versatile cook. At a very young age, she taught me to let my senses be my guide and to immerse myself in the creative nature of cooking. To feel and taste, rather than be a slave to the words on a recipe card.
I grew up playing in the kitchen. I recall one of my first cooking experiences at a very young age. I was in the kitchen standing on a stool in front of the stove and scrambling eggs ever so diligently. My mother patiently explained how to use a spatula to pull the edges of the cooked eggs in until they were all soft and scrambly. As a teenager, my mom worked late, and where weekday meals were made regularly using a jar of tomato sauce. Using what we had on hand, I found ways to doctor it up and saucing the main course to make it palatable for me and my two sisters.
After high school, I chose to formally pursue studying culinary arts. I attended and received my degree from The Culinary Institute of America, a top culinary school located in Hyde Park, NY. Attending culinary school equipped me with the technical skills and training I needed to become a personal chef. However, It was my upbringing in the restaurant industry that shaped my career path.
Gain the knowledge and confidence to take the first step towards building a thriving private chef enterprise of your own. I would love to work with you!
- Chef Robin