Chef Kristen grew up in a family that loved food. Both of her parents enjoyed being in the kitchen and sitting down at the table as a family to enjoy their culinary creations. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, this would become the motivation that Chef Kristen needed to become a personal chef.
Chef Kristen went off to college at Virginia Tech where she majored in biochemistry and chemistry. Upon graduation, she moved to the Northern Virginia area and began working as a cancer research scientist. After 3 years of being in that field, she realized that she was extremely unhappy with her career choice. In fact the only part of the day she looked forward to was getting home form work and getting into the kitchen to prepare dinner for herself and her husband. After Chef Kristen became a victim to corporate layoffs, she decided that was it. She was done working in the corporate world. She took off the lab coat, put on the chef coat, and has never looked back.
After having been a commuter herself in the nation’s third worst traffic area, she realized that by the time most people got out of their cars, they didn’t have the energy to cook dinner. And remembering with great fondness her family meals, she thought it was a shame that more people didn’t take part in gathering around the dinner table. So, Chef Kristen decided this was an area where she could make a positive change in people’s lives. As a result, Meals by Day Personal Chef Service was born in January of 2003.
Meals by Day’s success can be attributed to a lot of hard work and by being involved in the community. Chef Kristen is a member of the Herndon/Dulles Chamber of Commerce and is a volunteer on the membership committee. She also helps organize a monthly networking lunch to provide a casual environment for women to meet, greet, and eat. In addition, she serves as the Head Chef of the Virginia Chapter of the Personal Chefs Network.
Meals by Day has been featured twice in local papers, was the winner of the 2005 Outstanding Small Office/Home Office in the Herndon/Dulles Chamber of Commerce, was a nominee for the 2004 Best Home Based Business in Loudoun County, and the 2005 Town of Leesburg Business Appreciation Award.
When Chef Kristen is out of the kitchen you will find her pursuing some of her other interests. She loves swimming laps with the local Master's Swim Club and participating in yoga classes. During the spring and summer she can be found in the garden where she grows a variety of her own herbs and vegetables. In the fall she is an avid Virginia Tech football fan, and during the cold winter months she works on her various cross-stitch projects.
