Cooking is something that has been part of my whole life. As a younger child I remember standing up in a chair to watch my grandmother cook. She used to make the best, most delicious dishes and with such ease. Everyone would have lunch at my grandfather’s house, about 10-20 people on any given day, which made me realize how food brought people together. Since then, it has become an important part of my family gatherings. It is a moment we all share and cherish.

Food is one of the ways I show my family and friends how much they mean to me. Nothing makes me happier than watching people enjoying and sharing experiences around the table. That is why every chance I get, I try to invent some type of celebration to bring all of us together. You name it, I have done it! BBQs, dinner parties, birthdays, anniversaries, there is always a reason to celebrate. I guess that’s why I am born to orchestrate.

I love playing with different recipes, trying new ingredients, and creating new flavors. It is an art. It allows me to learn about different cultures and how the same dish can be reinvented in so many ways just by adding an ingredient. It keeps my 12 and one-year old guessing what will be on the table that day.

For me cooking is a stress reliever. In the past year and a half, it was one of the activities that remained constant in my family. Since we could not go out a lot, making different dishes at home kept us distracted. As we gathered around the table, it made me realize how lucky we are to have each other and to be able to share those moments together.

Cooking will continue to be an important part of my life because it reminds me of my happy childhood at my grandfather’s house. It allows me to be creative with dishes and at the same time provides me with genuine ways to show my appreciation and love to the people who surround me.

Karolyn Cruz, Finance Manager