ABOUT THIS COOK:

Born and raised on the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic, my passion for food was noticeable to my parents from an early age. My childhood pictures mainly consist of me devouring spaghetti bolognese. Never the shy one, spaghetti sauce flew across the room. I grew up to be a devotee to my mother's cooking and learned the basics from her. After obtaining my Bachelors in Hotel Administration in the Dominican Republic and working in pastry shops, I followed my dream to Hyde Park, NY home of The Culinary Institute of America were I spent 2 years of my life piping, cooking, whipping, baking! I externed in a luxury resort in Colorado Springs, baking all the morning breads and pastries. Meaning I worked overnight from 10pm to 12 noon! A tough job but someone had to do it. After graduation, I've worked on Martha's Vineyard as pastry cook; in Charlottesville, VA as Chocolate Production Assistant; currently freelance writing for various online sites.

• What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
  Deep Fried Rattlesnake

• What do you cook when home alone?
  Rice and Tuna Salad

• Your most treasured kitchen possession:
  My Whisk

• The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
  6, myself included