As we move into the fall season and past the whirlwind of the Jewish holidays, I find myself filled with excitement for all the community opportunities still ahead. This time of year always feels like a reset — a moment to reflect, refocus, and dream a little bigger.
Bringing on a new partner to Mosaic has been such a wonderful experience. It’s allowed me to step back in just the right ways — giving me time to develop plans for growth, build new ideas, and dream about how to expand all that we offer. It’s also created space for more balance in my life — and time at home with my kids, which is something I value deeply.
People often ask me how I got into cooking, and I always smile because the truth is: you never really know where life will take you. My journey began in my 20s as part of my own health transformation — trying to eat fewer processed foods and feel better from the inside out. But it was really when I became a mom that my love of food truly took off. I started making all of my own baby food, experimenting with new flavors, and constantly challenging myself to try new things.
As a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, creativity in the kitchen became my outlet. I made every birthday cake from scratch, decorated themed cupcakes, and even created elaborate cake pops — ridiculously detailed ones for toddlers who didn’t know the difference (but I loved every minute of it!). I also loved introducing my kids to new cuisines — from Thai to Japanese to Greek — and showing them how food can connect us to the world.
That same passion naturally carried over when I began volunteering to lead the kitchen at Congregation Beth Israel. What started as a volunteer role just clicked — and over time, it evolved into a part-time job. Before I knew it, I was on this path, and my “hobby” had grown into a calling.
Now, as I’m finding a bit more work-life balance, I’ve rediscovered the joy of cooking at home again — baking fresh bread, creating homemade granola bars, and letting myself experiment and play with food. I’m especially passionate about learning more about food processing and how to create delicious treats that are less processed but still full of flavor. It’s an exciting direction, and I hope to bring some of that learning into what we offer at Mosaic in the future.
One of the greatest joys for me is sharing that creativity with my kids. Cooking together — exploring, experimenting, and tasting as we go — is one of the things I love most. It’s even inspired me to think about offering cooking classes or workshops in the future, where I can share these skills and experiences with others.
At the heart of it all, though, my favorite part of this journey hasn’t changed: I love being part of people’s milestones — helping them celebrate, nourish, and connect. But even more than that, I love getting to know our customers, building relationships, and becoming part of their stories. That’s what makes what we do so meaningful — and why I’m so excited for everything this next season holds.
