Liza’s mission for Florabelle is to cultivate connection through conscious with food through in-home cooking and conscious culinary events. Liza’s love for cooking started at a young age when I made meals (consisting mostly of pasta) with my parents, siblings, and cousins. In college, I gravitated toward the kitchen and enjoyed bringing friends together through Sunday night dinners. After graduation, I took a 9-week Professional Series course at a Kansas City-based culinary institution and learned fundamental cooking techniques from local influential chefs. I was so inspired by the diversity of professional and self-taught chefs, I volunteered at the institution as an assistant chef for two years before piloting my own in-home cooking classes.

In 2018, I launched Florabelle, named after my great-grandmother, with my flagship class Fresh Pasta and Ravioli. I continued to train myself in the culinary arts through research, experimentation, and international travel and expanded my cuisine offerings to French, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Vietnamese, Ayurvedic, and Hispanic. In 2021, my culinary mission evolved after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a gut-related autoimmune disease. I began learning about functional medicine and how food can help or harm our bodies and the planet. I strive to educate my guests about sourcing high-quality, local ingredients that are functional, sustainable, and nutritious. I believe in reducing personal food waste, choosing ingredients for optimal health, and buying from reputable grocers.