About

My love affair with food started at a very young age.  My Mom was an accomplished home chef and introduced me to the joy of cooking.  As her assistant in the kitchen, I quickly learned it’s fine nuances and the joy one feels by preparing food for loved ones.  In 6^th grade I prepared a biographical speech regarding Escoffier (great French chef), dressed in full out whites, chef hat and cotton ball mustache.  It was then I decided to attend Cornell’s prestigious Hotel School and realized my dream seven years later as a freshman on the campus.

I’ve spent the last fifteen years taking care of my two beautiful children and living in various cities due to my husband’s career as a Hotel General Manager.  Our adventure started post-college in Seattle, Washington.  We spent a year in this fine city starting our hospitality careers and enjoying the birth of the grunge movement.  Our next destination was Toronto, Ontario (my husband is Canadian).  Five years in Canada landed me experience in corporate catering, a crazy Jack Russell Terrier named Daisy and a beautiful bouncing baby boy named Jake.

The thrilling city of San Francisco became our next dwelling. It was good to be back on the West Coast amidst sunshine, palm trees and first-class restaurants.  However, most of my time was used changing diapers, joining playgroups and locating the best neighborhoods for elementary schools.  With the addition of my daughter Eva to our family, cooking was literally put on the back burner.

After a few years in Oregon our family now lives in San Diego.  My kids are 12 and 15, so I am slowly gaining back my independence.  I found time to attend food writing courses and began developing Virtually Homemade.  All the recipes are developed in my kitchen and photographed in my backyard or a bright spot in my home (I only use natural light).  Once in a while I share a favorite recipe from a cookbook, blog or my childhood.  Otherwise, I spend most of my days mixing ingredients in my head to create the perfect dish for you.

Liz Hughes

Virtually Homemade