History

Sydney, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, has always had a deep connection to food. Some of her earliest memories are watching Julia Child on TV and standing on a stool to watch her mother cook. Her passion for the culinary arts was further nurtured as she spent time at The Paradiso, a well-known Detroit restaurant owned by her best friends’ parents. This early exposure to the restaurant industry sparked her love for food and its cultural diversity, which grew as she traveled the world and experienced different cuisines.

Sydney’s career in food began with work at ethnic restaurants and gourmet establishments across the country, but in 2001, she took a more entrepreneurial step by becoming a sales consultant for Two Sisters Gourmet and launching her own personal chef business. She further honed her skills while working as a chef at The Circle Bar Ranch in Montana and as part of the culinary team at the Eugene Mission’s Hospitality Kitchen. Along the way, Sydney’s passion for teaching blossomed, and in 2002, she began offering cooking classes to raise money for world missions.

A woman of faith, Sydney believes in the importance of passing down the knowledge of cooking nutritious, wholesome food to future generations. Her dedication to health and wellness also led her to a career in medicine. She’s a former Air Force-trained medic, Certified Surgical Technician, healthcare educator, and a retired Physician Assistant. Her culinary arts training is from Lane Community College.

Sydney’s lifelong dream was to have a state-of-the-art kitchen facility to teach community cooking classes. This dream came to life with the opening of LOVR Kitchen!