
Food is how I express myself, how I make the world a better place one plate at a time. Eating well can change someone’s life, and it’s very fulfilling to be a part of that change.
After spending my childhood helping to cook for a large family, I knew that food was going to be an integral part of my life. Completing my Apprenticeship under Chef Channon Mondoux, owner of Renaissance Cuisine in Michigan (as seen on Food Network’s Recipe Challenge), I recently relocated to Virginia to start the second branch of the company. My mentor and I share a love of unique foods, focusing on fresh preparation for flavor and healthfulness.
Virginia “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” and sustainable foods movements are passions for me, and I use as many local shops and purveyors as possible to prepare meals for my clients and my family. Visiting farms and markets myself allows me to develop relationships that ensure the highest quality of foods at the peak of flavor and ripeness for her clients, and to practice environmentally sound purchasing. This means fresher, more flavorful, more healthful foods for you, from eggs to meat to produce. It means that I, and my clients, are helping to support our local economy and local farms. It means making a better, more sustainable world one plate at a time.
I’ve spent several years studying historic foods, as well as specialty foods from a wide variety of cultures. Some of my recipes appear in a new e-book of historic Turkish recipes. I welcome people who are looking to find a chef who will work with their unique dietary needs, as well.





Great site…am enjoying reading it
Thanks for linking me in here
very cool. I ‘ll return the favor ! Hey, how bout a picture of Chef Shawn – You really should! The pictures are making me drool!!!
Damn it, now I’m hungry.
Very nicely done. It’s obvious you know what the heck you’re talking about. ; )
[...] diet needs. She also has an appreciation for many cultural dishes and shares alot in her BLOG . So, here you have it, a Personal Chef specializing in nutrition, focusing on local, [...]
Hey girl, the site is amazing. Turns out my new site (now up) is a wordpress too so we can link easily. call me or touch base!
Hey Shawn,
Don’t know if you remember me from AA (and Chuck’s parties) but I just wanted to say that I LOVE this site and love reading about all of the delicious-sounding things that you cook! (Please post more of the recipes you use!).
It sounds like you are doing great, and I am glad.
Kara, of course I remember you! It’s great to hear from you, and thank you for the kind words about my food
I have such a hard time posting recipes..most of my stuff is “toss it in a pot and go,” but, I do have some more coming up. Thadd gets on me about not writing stuff down, too, so I’m trying to be better about it!
We’re doing wonderfully, and I hope you are, as well. Feel free to give me an email sometime to catch up at: chef at shwankie dot net.
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes and your dedication to the dietary needs of different folks. The recipes (and photos) are wonderful.
If interested in a “Roanoke Party” I will be happy to host you in my home and have friends to attend.
Kathy