Erica Weisman

Co-Founder

I am a homesick Texan living in the Pacific Northwest. Although I miss bluebonnets, queso, and armadillos, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest have quickly become home. Within a year of living up here I began to cook! I'd cook dinner almost every night, cook my lunches, and even my breakfasts. I didn't know it at the time, but I was recreating the environment I grew up in; the food I ate when I was younger. My mom is an incredible cook. Dinner at home was an experience I looked forward to- often featuring new yet comforting dishes she wanted to try. Cooking brought her joy, just as it began to bring me joy!

It was this innate love that pushed me to apply for a cook position at Portage Bay Cafe. I loved working in such a fast past and energetic environment through college. A year later, I applied to the big leagues- Canlis Restaurant, an American-Japanese fine-dining restaurant that is over 60 years old... and I got the job! At Canlis, I worked as a prep cook, on special projects pertaining to research and dish development, and on the cold line/ hors d'oeuvres. I spent over 6 months as a lead cook, working alongside sous chefs, and cooking coursed meals for private parties and events. I gained countless new skills working at Canlis, my 'culinary school.' It taught us cooks how to deliver fast paced, near-perfect results and how to use modern techniques to develop new dishes.

I soon realized restaurant cooking is not necessarily how I want to spread the joy of food and cooking. Around this time, I spent my senior year at UW working to create a cook book for my thesis, interviewing Seattlites, and featuring their stories alongside their treasured recipes. I celebrated diverse food narratives through story-telling and the tactile approach of cooking, eating, and sharing food. 

After two extremely fun and successful summers leading cooking camps for youth alongside Alice, creating this cook book, and gaining more culinary training, I am excited to say that we are ready for this next chapter. Alice and I are beyond thrilled to bring our complimentary skills and passions to work with you or your kids!