Diverse would definitely be one way to describe Michelle’s culinary experience. As a teenager, she began working at her family’s restaurant, learning both the front and back of the house. Her high school summers were spent at the MbarJ Guest Ranch (yep, a dude ranch!) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains – not as a guest, but rather as the cook. Preparing dishes for 40 guests each day was a terrific experience that gave her a great foundation to build upon.

Taking a break to begin a family, Michelle couldn’t stay completely away from her love of food. She began submitting recipe creations to various cooking contests. She found success when invited to compete twice at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, placing third with her Gilroy Fritters. Her California Club Sandwich garnered an honorable mention in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.  For capturing first place with her Festive Green Tea Egg Nog, Nestea Corporation sent her and her husband on a Napa Valley trip to the famed Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone campus in St. Helena, California where they completed a baking and pastry course.

Most recently, Michelle was invited to represent the state of Idaho at the 47th National Chicken Cooking Contest held in Birmingham, Alabama. Her Thai Inspired Stuffed Chicken Breast and Slaw was chosen over 50 other cook’s recipes and took the top prize of $100,000. Food Network’s film crew captured all the drama for an upcoming episode of Food Network Challenge. 

Here’s what Nancy Dell’Aria, food editor of Woman’s Day magazine and chairman of the panel of media judges had to say about Michelle’s recipe:  “The dish looked spectacular and tasted delicious.  It had several different textures and a delightful crunch. We knew it was a contender from the first bite.”

Besides her two favorite jobs of wife and mom, Michelle also writes regular columns in the Treasury Valley Parent Magazine, Eagle Life Magazine and the Treasure Valley Journal, enjoys public speaking, writing cookbooks and sharing her love of food with those around her.