Welcome to Dances with Knives where you will find amazing chef crafted vegan recipes. All eaters are welcome. Whether you are vegan, trying to become vegan, or just want to eat more meat-free. The goal is to help make cooking vegan food easy, enjoyable, and delicious!
About Me
Hello there, I’m Kim the recipe developer and creator of Dances With Knives. I'm a classically trained chef, world traveler, trained dancer, and animal lover with an unstoppable gusto for life! Most of the time you will find me in a kitchen with a knife in my hand dancing to a beat as I create yummy vegan food.
My culinary career began when I got my degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. For many years I was a personal chef to several Hollywood celebrities in Los Angeles. Some of which who have created, written, or starred in shows such as Captain America, The Avengers, Inside Amy Schumer, The Hangover, The Matrix, V for Vendetta, Dice, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, Bones, and many more.
Aside from my culinary degree, I've studied numerous types of cuisines from countries all over the world and furthered my education by attending seminars to learn more about holistic eating, health, and nutrition. I believe that food can be both delicious and healing.
In the kitchen I strive to be as sustainable as possible. I’m a big advocate of no waste in the kitchen. Just like life, I believe food is full circle.
You can learn more about what I offer as a vegan chef by checking out my services page. Let’s work together!
Why Dances With Knives
Dances With Knives was inspired by a passion for food, years of developing vegan recipes, and a desire to share those recipes with everyone.
But why the name Dances With Knives?
I spent the first 20 years of my life studying dance. The part of me that is a dancer is always there and the part of me that is chef is often holding a knife. Cooking brings me joy and developing recipes makes me want to dance, so I often find myself bouncing around the kitchen holding my knife. Hence, Dances With Knives!
How It All Started
Getting this blog off the ground took a few life events, world travel, and a never ending love of food.
In 2017 I left my cushy job as a personal chef in Los Angeles to travel the world just eight months after my mom died from a short battle with cancer. Her passing and the grief that followed changed how I saw the world. It had me begin to focus on the kind of life that I wanted to create for myself and start living in the present.
Since then I’ve had the opportunity to study different cuisines in over 30 countries, volunteer at a bird sanctuary in Portugal, see the himalayas, explore wildlife first hand, train others in kitchens in Africa, and much more.
But in 2020 life changed for all of us as Covid-19 hit. And for me all the traveling started coming to halt. It was a time to regroup and the result was an opportunity for me to finally start the vegan food blog that I had talked about doing for so many years. A chance to put my experience as well as my skills to use in a whole new way and connect with others.
Background
I grew up in Maryland outside of Washington, DC where my love of cooking began at a young age. I would spend hours reading cookbooks and experimenting in the kitchen. I have always loved creating something that I can share with others.
But my journey with food has been one of highs and lows.
By the age of thirteen, I had spent several years in and out of the hospital and experienced two major abdominal surgeries that affected my ability to eat. My surgeries left me with a small portion of lower intestines that had died, a digestive system that was lacking, and two nice size scars on my belly. Yet, being young and resilient was on my side. My body eventually healed and life went on.
But then by the age of sixteen, I had developed an eating disorder. Food became my drug. I didn't even realize that I had a problem. In the beginning, my anxiety led me to overeating, but eventually turned into anorexia and bulimia. It took me many years to recover, but it opened my eyes up to the healing power of healthy food on both the body and mind.
After overcoming all my challenges with food, I had a new mindset and life led me to travel internationally. In 2003, while living abroad in South East Asia, I fell in love with food, cooking, and culture. My passion for cooking was born. So much so that I enrolled in culinary school a few years later and never looked back.
My relationship with food has taught me that food can both harm and heal. The benefits of eating a healthy diet can change lives. One of the many reasons that I work with food today is because I love that I make a difference by contributing to the well being of others.