Some of my favorite memories happened around the dinner table.

Some of my favorite memories growing up happened around the dinner table. Growing up, dinner was always an event. Between the daily gossip about the day's rowing practice to news from the older college-age kids activities to being the front- and back- of the house staff for my parents occasional dinner parties. 

As one of seven children, our home was always busy. My mom prepared meals because she had a family of nine to feed—it was simply part of caring for all of us. Later in life, my dad discovered a love for cooking. In his fifties, he began experimenting in the kitchen and embraced it as a creative outlet. Watching him reminded me that cooking wasn't just about putting food on the table—it was about creating something meaningful to share with the people you love.

Those experiences shaped how I think about food today. A meal is never just a meal. It's an opportunity to slow down, connect, celebrate, and care for the people around us.

After a successful career in corporate training and project management, I finally decided to follow the passion that had quietly been growing for years.

I enrolled in culinary school in 2015 and founded Fresh Every Thyme in 2016, serving hundreds of families, professionals, and organizations throughout the Seattle area.

Today, Port Side Kitchen Company is the next chapter of that journey.

You'll still find the same personalized service, thoughtful menus, and scratch-made food—but with an expanded focus on catering, vacation rental services, and handmade cheesecakes for families, businesses, and wholesale partners.

Whether I'm preparing dinner for a busy household, catering an important event, stocking a vacation rental before guests arrive, or helping a restaurant create a memorable dessert program, my goal is always the same:

Make people feel cared for through great food.