Are you a woman considering a career as a professional chef? or maybe you are just curious about what life is really like behind the kitchen walls of a restaurant through the eyes of a female chef. This is the story of my cooking journey from the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the coast of Cape Cod, then across country to Lake Tahoe and beyond. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and getting married, both in 1981, my husband and I moved westward. Throughout this book, you will gain insight into my life in more than twenty different restaurants, both large and small, short-lived and long. for a few years, I also taught professional cooking at both the high school and college level. Throughout the book, you will become enlightened to the many diffi culties, as well as, humorous day to day events that occurred in the many places I have worked. You may laugh, cry and get angry all in one chapter. Even though I am not a world renowned chef, I did achieve my highest goal, owning and operating my own restaurant. I owe my success to my sons' and parents' support, mentally, physically and fi nancially. I never would have survived if it wasn't for them. Included in this book, are a few of my favorite recipes. Someday I hope to get my cookbooks published, too.