Come and get to know me better!
Hi, I’m Cheryl. Each year, I volunteer as the chef for a charity wine pairing dinner event. But my role is more than simply cooking or even catering.
Months of research, planning and preparation go into each event, so that myself and a few volunteers can delight guests with new tasting experience each time.
My experience goes through all stages of party planning from ideation, planning, prepping and execution. This includes :
- creating themes
- venue review and considerations
- budgeting and tracking expenses
- building timelines and calendars
- creating menus
- creating or modifying recipes
- learning new techniques
- testing recipes
- wine pairing
- designing plating
- building lists for supplies, equipment, groceries
- shopping online and in-person – find best deals for quality items
- prep plans – breaking down dishes’ make-ahead elements
- creating checklists for pre-party prep, all items for event
- execution during event: prep, cooking, serving
- presenting dishes and talking to guests about what makes the dish special and how it fits into the theme and pairs with the wine
- clean up /pack up (and working with volunteers)
My Passion is Creative Cooking
While it is not my current profession, food is my passion. I have been cooking and baking since I was eight years old – so nearly fifty years. I grew up on PBS cooking shows (before Food Network was a thing) . I especially watched Jacques Pépin and Dessert Circus.
When I was asked, by my mother, to help with the Charity Wine Dinners, I felt it was a calling. I love to cook creatively. There is so much inspiration in exploring and designing something new and beautiful with food. But like much art, it doesn’t truly come to full fruition unless it is shared.
It was a big undertaking, but here’s the thing, I excel at problem-solving. This event is like a giant puzzle that I piece together bit by bit. From budget through how the heck to pull this off for 25-30 people at once.
And as we get older and a little burned out on the daily grind, sometimes you need to find something that reignites your purpose. I like challenges to pushes me. Some people run a marathon, my knees prefer cooking challenges. For either endeavor, the right shoes is a must.
Now, after many years of doing wine pairing parties, I am offering what I’ve learned and created to inspire others. It’s a new challenge, a different kind of puzzle, and an even greater opportunity to share beauty in this world.