“I finally realized that I really enjoyed the food industry,”
says Maggie, “and that I could make it a serious career”—which she did.
Today, Maggie is a Cleveland sales representative for Vanguard Wines. To get to this point in
her impressive 30-year career, she achieved some lofty credentials: CSW
(Certified Specialist of Wine) and WSET (Wine and Spirits Educational Trust
Level 3). She also attended the enviable, by-invitation-only Oregon Pinot Camp.
Plus, she was once a wine buyer for Whole Foods, a very competitive position.
“It was my mom who influenced my love of food the most,”
admits Maggie. “I still remember eating the heel of her freshly baked bread. I
also remember pulling up my very first carrot out of her garden. The best
carrot ever! I’ll never have one as good.”
She goes on to add, “Today, cooking is relaxing for me. It
separates work from personal time. It’s a creative outlet and can be somewhat
meditative in nature. As for wine, I think of it as a food. I serve it with
meals, which slows you down. It also slows down the conversation you’re having
with company. It’s pretty much a key ingredient to any meal.”
As for where she’s had the best wine, she says it would have
to be in Piedmont, Italy.
“That is where things ‘clicked’ for me,” admits Maggie.
“Locally grown produce and meat with local wine. Simple but fresh ingredients, simply
prepared. It was the start of my visiting small towns throughout central Italy.
Each one had its own distinct style and flavor. They really added definition to
the term ‘local.’”
Of all the great foods she’s tried, the most unusual were
the freshly caught octopus and crab on Corsica. “They were caught by our host’s
son,” she explains. “His wet suit and spear, which we saw outside the cellar,
gave us our first clue to the possibility of our evening meal. It was
absolutely delicious and unusual for the fact that it was caught just for us within
a mere hour of dinner.”
As for how she first heard of LDEI, Maggie says Beth Davis-Noragon
invited her about five years ago, but she didn’t feel quite ready to join at
that time. Then Beth asked her again last year, and she is now the Cleveland
chapter’s vice president.
“LDEI’s mission is in line with what I am most passionate about: food, education, and philanthropy,” says Maggie.
Learn more about Maggie as she shares some fun and interesting insights about herself.
What is your favorite cookbook?
Joyof Cooking. A
great resource.
What is your
favorite food blog? Smitten Kitchen.
What’s your
favorite comfort food? A casserole of eggplant and zucchini with tomato
sauce, mozzarella, and lots of basil. Sort of an eggplant parmigiana.
Any favorite
indulgences? Really good wine. Champagne, Barolo, Burgundy.
What’s your
favorite snack? Peanut butter and gluten-free rice crackers with almond
milk.
Do you have a
signature dish? Baby back ribs. Even though I eat almost an entirely
vegetarian diet, my ribs are the best. It’s the one meal I don’t have to ask my
family twice to come over for!
What’s your
go-to, quick-and-easy dinner? Stir-fried veggies with rice and noodles.
Name 3 things
that are always in your refrigerator. Lemons, wine, and honey.
Name 3 kitchen
gadgets you can’t live without. Cast iron pan, chef’s knife, and cutting
board.
What would
people be surprised to find in your kitchen pantry? Frozen tater tots.
