Onisha
As one of the founders of Travel Food Couch, my connection to the kitchen runs deep. The origins of my foodie bliss began at the tender age of two, perched on a step stool. I watched in fascination as my mom transformed half-moon biscuits, melted butter, and cinnamon into something beautiful and deliciously magical. She demonstrated first then let me copy her actions, and just like that, I was hooked! From that moment on, I became an unstoppable force in the kitchen, a true culinary powerhouse.
Cookbooks are my novels and food magazines with colorful yet delicious looking photographs of food 🥘📚 – I devour them! They are my guilty pleasures and I show off the gorgeous pictures to attract more attention to the particular recipe akin to a magazine centerfold. Grocery shopping? That's my sensual playground, a treasure hunt for ingredients that ignite new ideas for phenomenal dishes.
I'm a proud mom to two amazing boys, and my wonderful husband who provides humongous and unwavering support. We have been together for over 30 years. All three boys share my deep love for food and cooking, which makes every meal memorable with taste buds dancing all night long. Our family is completed by two furry babies: a loyal chocolate Labrador and an adorable Bichon Frise. My oldest son is now starting his own foodie journey and I delight in watching him enjoying each taste he experiences when he tries new things.
Two pivotal traveling moments in my life were in the summers of 1981 and 1988. My mom told me she had a surprise for me when I was 5 years old. She brought me into a very tiny room and pointed to two nightgowns hanging in the closet, declaring, “We are going to spend the night here!”. That was my introduction to Laguna Beach and my family’s timeshare there. At just 12 years old, my mom and I embarked on an unforgettable cross-country Amtrak train ride. Our first stop was New Orleans, Louisiana, and it was love at first sight! 😍 That vibrant city, with its unique culture and incredible food scene, captured my heart instantly.
Today, New Orleans and Laguna Beach, California, remain my favorite travel destinations. My ultimate dream vacations are going on a Disney cruise, swimming with humpback whales in Tonga, and any place that offers cooking local cuisine like they do in Italy.
And my ultimate comfort food? My very own homemade breakfast burrito with all the favorite different fun flavors I can make with them! 🌞
My go-to phrase for adventure and new experiences? "Let's try this!"