I grew up in a German household where food was a sincere expression of love. Each day, cooking and sharing dinner with the whole family was an important time for us to create memories that will last forever. This tradition of connecting with my family was why I fell in love with everything about food. To this day there is nothing that makes me happier than cooking for the people I love and watching them relax and enjoy the food and each other.

After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, I spent over 20 years in the corporate world helping to deliver Internet and educational services. Whenever possible, I took cooking classes and more cooking classes – from Johnson & Wales here in Rhode Island to immersion cooking experiences in Thailand, Italy and Germany while traveling throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. I then brought those ingredients and techniques home to cook fun and often exotic meals for family and friends. Like so many other professionals, though, I found myself working up to 70 hours a week and having less and less time to prepare fresh, healthy, satisfying meals. Norbert and I saw there was a need for personal chef services. We had the business and customer service expertise, and we were ready change our lives and make food and cooking our profession. My Chef Lara was born!

This is a great time to bring all the exciting things going on in the world of food to our clients. The farmers markets and local stores are constantly expanding with better and fresher food. There is a wealth of information about special diets for allergies, medical conditions, and weight management that allows individuals to enjoy flavorful meals and celebrations despite their limited options. And, of course, I will always focus on ways to bring mindful eating back to our lives and bring families of any size back to the dinner table.