I am a Portland, Oregon-based freelance writer, but also a cookbook collector, a closet Esquire subscriber and a classic cocktail enthusiast. I live for morning runs, trips to the bookstore and rhubarb season. And yet, none of these pleasures surpasses the fulfillment I get from putting a pen to paper.

My first writing gig came during elementary school when my neighbors and I tapped out the lone issue of The Northwood News on my mom’s old typewriter. Though the subject of that first clip has since escaped my memory, my childhood hobby has now become my career.

I’ve carved a niche for myself writing about food and beverage, be it through chef profiles, trend-driven cocktail stories or pieces on my favorite seasonal ingredients. I’ve written about vintage table settings, artisan bakers and parsnip desserts; penned a love letter to olive oil cake and elaborated on the reasons why punch made a comeback at Portland bars.

Additionally, I test and develop recipes for clients such as Tastingtable.com and wrote a regional cookbook titled Dishing Up Oregon. These gigs encourage me to explore new ingredients and dishes whether I’m tweaking a chef’s recipe to suit home cooks or developing a marionberry mole sauce for my cookbook on Oregon’s farm-to-table food scene.

My career is now a far cry from providing content for The Northwood News and one I am incredibly fortunate to call my own.