I think careful cooking is love, don't you? The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who's close to you is about as nice a valentine as you can give. Cooking is like snow skiing: If you don't fall at least 10 times, then you're not skiing hard enough.

For me, cooking is an extension of love. I love spending time with my friends and family. The simplest things in life give me the most pleasure: cooking a good meal, enjoying my friends. Cooking is in an honest profession where you cannot hide and let others do the work for you. You have to show up, work hard and prove you can do it faster and better. And find a mentor who will recognize your talent and push you in the right direction.

I started cooking in kitchens right out of high school, and I was lucky to work with a lot of great people, but I had no idea it would turn into this.

For collaboration and business inquires: cookwithzara@gmail.com