Cynthia Christensen

Cynthia is a lifelong passionate cook who has brought her well-honed skills into professional kitchens and bakeries. She received official bakery training from the pastry chefs at The Flaky Tart, a former James Beard nominated Bakery on the Jersey Shore, and further improved her pastry and savory experience staging and working at Heirloom Kitchen, a casual fine dining restaurant in New Jersey, co-owned by a James Beard nominee and Top Chef contestant, Chef David Viana. Additionally, she worked for world renowned butcher Pat Lafrieda at the New York City Wine and Food Festival and cooked and photographed his products for his website. Cynthia has worked both in restaurant settings and private chef environment.

Growing up in a mixed Southern and Korean household, she enjoys sharing the traditional techniques and delicious flavors she has loved throughout her life on her food blog, But First We Brunch.

Favorite meal when you're cooking for yourself: "I am absolutely obsessed with Korean Curry Rice (ka-re-rice, 카레라이스). Made with vegetables and meat in a spicy (I like extra spicy) curry sauce, I serve it over hot rice. It's a quick easy meal that I put together with store-bought Japanese curry and whatever meat and veggie I have available. I eat an embarrassing amount and go to bed happy."