My passion for food started at an early age. Born in Maryland, raised in Mississippi and Virginia, I quickly learned to love a variety of cuisines throughout my life.

As a child my greatest joy was to watch my mother cook, and how creative she was in the kitchen. I loved sitting at the kitchen counter watching my mom gracefully add a variety of spices to a dish effortlessly without a recipe to guide her. It wasn’t until later in life that I truly appreciated and understood the power of creating a dish for loved ones.

As a former Navy brat, I was exposed to a variety of dishes - seafood, barbecue, fresh fruits and vegetables. My family always encouraged me to try something at least once to experience the dish itself.

Some of my greatest memories as a young girl were surrounded by food. I have fond memories of visiting my grandmother in Washington D.C. during my childhood summers, and enjoying some of the best crab cakes at Kinkead's. Devouring shrimp po-boys with my mom were a treat while living in Mississippi. My dad cooking Saturday morning breakfast when I was a little girl, he’d casually whipped up the best pancakes, waffles, and French toast, while we bonded over football, comic books and Star Wars. Also, my mom passing down a secret family recipe before I married my husband, Carlton - her famous hot wing sauce, just because she knew it was his favorite dish.

For me, food is a direct correlation to memory, taking you back to the exact moment in time where you had that delicious meal, how it made you feel, and who you enjoyed it with - that’s what I hope to convey on this blog, food is love, family, and it’s pure joy.

As I grew older, I began to appreciate food in a different way. Living in an international residence hall for the majority of my college years at the University of Virginia while pursuing a Bachelors degree in Computer Science - my palate grew exponentially. I was exposed to Indian, Chinese, French, Nigerian, and Ghanaian dishes - my love for food evolved beyond my wildest dreams. Also, during my time in Charlottesville, VA is when my curiosity for wine began. Being in such a close proximity to several amazing wineries, I was able to try a variety of wines - and I was enamored immediately.

After my undergraduate career, travel became a necessity and priority. Visiting countries such as, Mexico, London, France, and Italy all inspire the way I curate dishes at home in my kitchen. I began to really dive into how it was possible to recreate some of my favorite dishes that I’ve experienced across the United States, abroad, and in my local restaurants in Virginia Beach, VA.

During this time my love for wine grew in tandem with my enthusiasm for curating new meals. I began to visit Virginia wineries and really sought out to learn the winemaking process. Many visits to local wine shops, and creating connections in the wine industry, it only made sense to take my wine education to the next level. I obtained two certifications through The Wine & Spirit Education Trust - Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Wines.

For me food and wine are the ultimate perfect pair, thus Vine + Butcher was born. This is a space for every element in your meal to compliment one another, while creating the best memory for yourself and your loved ones surrounded by cuisine and spirits.

Currently, I live in Virginia Beach, VA with my husband Carlton and son Roman. Some of my favorite things include: watching the Real Housewives franchise on Bravo!, creating bouquets of flowers for my home, being a plant mom to my lovely plant babies, listening to podcasts, making playlists on Spotify, and spending quality time with my family and friends. But, most importantly cooking home cooked meals with my husband and son, while sipping on a glass of champagne or red wine is my favorite place to be.