Hi there! I’m Olivia, and I’m so glad you’ve stopped by. I’m 51 years old, living just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, surrounded by the gentle hum of mountains and the scent of fresh herbs growing on my porch. Cooking has been my heartbeat for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t always glamorous—and I think that’s what makes it so special.
I didn’t grow up in a family of chefs or go to culinary school straight out of high school. Actually, I spent a good chunk of my twenties working in bookstores and coffee shops, scribbling recipes in the margins of my journals between customers. It wasn’t until my early thirties, after my second child was born, that I finally leaned fully into cooking as more than a hobby. I took night classes, devoured every cookbook I could find, and started hosting wildly imperfect dinner parties where the bread was sometimes burnt but the laughter was always real.
What I love most is helping home cooks feel brave in the kitchen. You don’t need fancy gadgets or rare ingredients to make a meal that sings. My kitchen philosophy is rooted in warmth, improvisation, and a good dash of humor. If you’ve ever substituted yogurt for sour cream or added a splash of wine because, well, it was open—you’re my kind of cook.
I now run small cooking workshops from my home, where folks gather around a big, worn oak table to chop, stir, and share stories. We make everything from hand-rolled pasta to Southern-style biscuits, and I always say: the only real rule is to taste as you go. Mistakes happen—I once mixed up salt and sugar in a pie crust, and we still laugh about that one years later.
Cooking, for me, is a way of connecting—to my roots, to my community, and to you. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been cooking for decades, I hope you’ll find a little inspiration here. My kitchen door is always open, and there’s usually something bubbling on the stove.
Welcome, friend. Let’s cook something wonderful together.
💌 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly recipe inspiration.
📧 Got questions or want to share your story? Reach out at [email protected]
🌐 Visit: www.thesavoryhearth.com