Lover of Food

I began reading recipes out of my parent's subscription to Sunset Magazine from the age of ten. I was the ambitious one of four daughters in the kitchen mixing brownie batter out of a box, making marinara sauce, and being rushed once to the emergency after slicing tomatoes and my finger at age 5.

In college I thought I'd teach high school science. After college, I spent a summer in Italy, exploring the fresh markets, waited for the bakeries to reopen in the afternoon, walked the quiet streets observing fresh herbs and vegetables growing in every yard and ate simple seasonal meals. I came home to Sacramento with inspired senses and followed my heart into Greta's Cafe where I was introduced to the commercial kitchen, met new family and started my career as a baker and chef.

I moved from Sacramento to the mountains in 1994 eager for a change of pace and scenery, and to ski. I managed the Blue Coyote Cafe in Arnold and over two years assisted in converting the ice cream sandwich shop into a full scale bakery and restaurant. I was offered the opportunity to work with my very pregnant friend Melanie Klann, who opened the first bakery in Murphys, known now as Aria. In 2001 I was hired on to manage the kitchen at Alchemy Market and Cafe in Murphys and on the side baked wedding cakes from home while juggling my two children, Madeline and Ethan.

In September of 2005 I built out a commercial kitchen and started Lila & Sage Bakery & Catering Co. in Murphys. For the last two years I was contracted to create all the cakes for Ironstone Vineyards, and at the same time managed to cater anything from box lunches, intimate wine dinners to full service weddings. In 2007 I baked over 75 wedding cakes and my catering business grew 200%. You can meet us at our local seasonal farmer's markets on Thursdays in Murphys and Friday evenings in Angles Camp where we offer fresh breads, pastries, tapenades, vinaigrettes and salsas.

For fun, I cook for wine dinners on the river with OARS and offer winter and spring cooking classes for kids and adults, between powder days at Bear Valley!

Everyday, I appreciate my art is supporting my family and our lifestyle. I look forward to creating, personalizing and participating in your event!