Welcome

Growing up in Whittier, California, I fell in love with life in the kitchen. Summers meant picking boysenberries from our backyard, baking fresh bread, and canning fruits and vegetables alongside my mom. Those early years shaped my love for seasonal ingredients, thoughtful cooking, and the quiet creativity that comes from making food from scratch.

At 17, I began culinary school and quickly stepped into the professional world, eventually leaving to work as a private chef; an experience that taught me how personal food becomes when cooking for others. From there, my path led me to live in Sequoia National Park, where I ran a kitchen and embraced a quieter life in the forest. After that chapter, I stepped away from professional kitchens to focus on raising my three children.

When my kids reached school age, I returned to work and founded Christiana’s Preserves, a small-batch jam company I ran for seven years, working closely with local farms and seasonal produce.

Today, my focus is on recipe development, food styling, and creating beautiful, seasonal food content through my blog and social media, Christiana in the Kitchen. I love telling stories through food; developing recipes, styling dishes, and collaborating with brands like California Olive Oil Council, Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, Orgain, Cook’s, Talley Farms, Sunshine Olive Oil, Pure Leaf, and Fresh Pressed Olive Oil.

My work is rooted in tradition, shaped by real kitchen experience, and inspired by a wide range of culinary influences. My goal is to make cooking feel creative, approachable, and deeply satisfying.