Hi there! I’m Olivia , and if you’re anything like me, you believe that the best meals aren’t just made with great ingredients they’re made with heart, with a little mess, and with a whole lot of love.
I’m 40 years old, born and raised just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, where the mountains are as full of flavor as the kitchens. I grew up in a home where the stove was always warm, and someone was always trying to sneak a taste of something before it was finished. My mom made everything from scratch, and though she never followed a recipe, somehow it always came out perfect or at least memorable. That’s where I caught the bug.
Unlike most chefs you’ll hear about, I didn’t go to culinary school. I went to art school in Savannah, of all places. But even there, food kept calling me. I’d host tiny dinner parties in my studio apartment, cooking for classmates who had no idea what a béchamel was but were more than happy to eat it. After college, I bounced around a bit, worked in a bookstore, taught painting classes, but cooking never let go of me. Eventually, I realized it wasn’t a hobby anymore; it was my language, my therapy, and my way of showing up for people.
So I dove in. I started small, offering weekend baking classes out of my apartment. Then came a blog, then some pop-up dinners, and before I knew it, I had a little community of curious, joyful home cooks who weren’t afraid to make a few mistakes in the kitchen as long as they ended up with something delicious. That’s who I cook for. That’s who I am.
These days, I still live in Asheville with my rescue pup, Millie, and way too many spice jars. My cooking style? It’s playful, seasonal, and deeply personal. I love Southern comfort food with unexpected twists, and I’ll never say no to trying a new ingredient even if I have to Google it first. I believe cooking should feel approachable, imperfect, and, most of all, fun. The best meals I’ve ever made weren’t flawless; they were shared with friends, made in a hurry, and maybe a little burnt around the edges.
If you’re a home cook who wants to learn, experiment, and enjoy the process (even when your dough doesn’t rise), you’re in the right place. I’m not here to teach you how to be perfect I’m here to remind you how magical it is to feed the people you love and to find your own rhythm in the kitchen.
Let’s cook something wonderful, shall we?
