Hello!
I’m Raquel, the black animal in the photo above is our pup Dedas. I live with my fiance husband (!!) in the beautiful California Central Coast, where I find inspiration for my food, fitness, and life in general.
I started this blog shortly after graduating from Cal Poly SLO with degrees in Molecular Biology and Microbiology. Graduating from college was a monumental change for me, and an achievement I am extremely proud of. However, I felt a bit lost and needed a way to put down some roots that I did just for me – not for school or for a job or for any specific goal in mind. I just wanted to make delicious food and share my passion with you, readers or novice cooks or pro chefs or other bloggers who are also obsessed with what we put in our mouths.
My Food Philosophy
I really, truly believe that the best approach to food is to simply eat a wide variety of things. Sure, there may be better diets (I’m inclined to think that a mostly plant-based diet is probably the healthiest), but these aren’t often sustainable for people. And besides, I’m in love with food. Why eschew some of the most delicious food entirely when you can reap many of the same benefits when you have it only so often?
So yes. Your body is entirely a reflection of your lifestyle. But I don’t want to live to be 110 years old and never enjoy the creaminess of goat cheese on my tongue or the crunch of cinnamon sugar on top of a donut because when I’m 110 I’ll still be old. So I may as well enjoy some of the things I enjoy most, but in moderation.
Then, what do I eat? I try my hardest to eat lots of veggies. I am in love with good, crusty bread. I do, however, enjoy the challenge of baking gluten-free. And I have a love affair with both eggs and cheese, which I attempt every day to keep in check.
I do not eat meat. While I believe this is the healthiest (and cheapest! and best for the environment! [!!!]), this is also just a personal choice. I didn’t eat much meat growing up and gave it up easily in high school. I haven’t really ever desired to eat it again. I’m just not a big fan.
Other Things
I ride mountain bikes. It’s a really awesome and fun way to get out of your comfort zone. I ride an orange Transition Bandit, in case you wanted to know. If any of you are locals and want to meet up, I’m always looking for other girls to ride with. I also run, about 15 miles a week. Just to keep things interesting.
I currently work for Food Blogger Pro doing little bits of everything, from podcast editing to creating new courses. It’s really fun, and I feel so lucky to get to do this as my job.
AJ and I got engaged back in March (!), and we are planning our wedding for March of next year. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.
AJ and I got married in March 2015. You can see some pictures here. It was the most fun and awesome day of my life. We also bought a house just 6 days after we got married, and remodeled our kitchen. 2015 was an exciting year! I am STILL the luckiest girl in the world.
Dedas is our baby. She is entirely crazy, ball obsessed, and full of way too much energy – as in she would be happy if we went on 5 mile runs every day, and sometimes twice a day. We love her to death.