I'm the co-founder and CEO at Foodista.com. I grew up surrounded by food on both sides of my family. My paternal grandmother owned a diner for many years, and my maternal grandmother (and mother of five daughters) was always found in the kitchen baking or whipping up garden-fresh tomato juice. My mother instilled in me the importance of healthy, wholesome eating and fed the entire family homemade soups, breads, and fresh carrot juice. Through my grandmothers, mother, and numerous travels overseas, I developed my love of food. I honed my palate and taste for travel by hopping planes with my airline pilot father, spent nearly a year studying in Italy and traveling in Greece, and taught English in Tokyo for three years. My professional background is in traditional and online marketing, where I worked for companies such as Amazon.com, Microsoft, Nordstrom, and eBay. With Foodista.com I have finally found my true passion - immersion in the world of food. I'm also the proud mama of Emery, a fan of nearly all foods but especially aged sharp Cheddar cheese and Pirate's Bootie.