Food has always been the heartbeat of my life. As a child, I was captivated by my mother, a gourmet cook, whose kitchen was a realm of transformation, turning simple ingredients into unforgettable culinary experiences. I built a successful career in business, with a degree in business management and real estate and a job I loved at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, but nothing could compare to the joy of creating delicious meals.

So I traded my corporate attire for a chef’s jacket and completed comprehensive professional chef training at the Culinary Institute of America. My education continued alongside the chefs I worked with in renowned restaurants across Europe and the talented culinary artists I met during my travels, who generously shared their secrets. My journey then took me to the high seas, where I served as executive chef on a mega yacht, creating exquisite meals for high-profile guests while mastering precision and adaptability.

In Cannes, I founded La Serviette Blanche, where I taught cooking classes, curated culinary experiences and opened a private dining restaurant. Our cooking classes earned several awards of excellence, and in 2014 the restaurant received a prestigious Michelin accreditation. I later established Born to Taste Amsterdam as a subsidiary of La Serviette Blanche, continuing to share my love of teaching through cooking classes in Amsterdam.

A serious shoulder injury eventually led me to step back from the physical demands of professional kitchens. I also live with Type 2 diabetes, which transformed my relationship with food and inspired me to focus on diabetes-friendly cooking: adapting beloved recipes so they never lose their flavour.

Today, from Málaga, Spain, I share my culinary experience through Epicurean Flow: chef-written cookbooks, practical cooking courses and a blog with recipes from around the world. Join me in celebrating the love of food, the joy of cooking and delicious, diabetes-friendly meals without compromise.