From Veera’s Website…
Who is Chef Veera?
Pretty simple really. Driven by a passion that borders on obsession that developed in me at a very young age I always knew I was going to be a chef. (Sound familiar??)
I was privileged to have been a faculty member, department head, Vice President of Operations and finished my career as Provost and Chief Academic officer for Johnson & Wales University. During my career at JWU I also taught courses in leadership, intercultural communication, teambuilding and strategic planning. The best part, though, was the opportunity to take classes and workshops alongside my culinary colleagues – learning about culinary nutrition, modernist cuisine, food chemistry and more.
Although I was extremely proud of everything that I was achieving, there was a feeling that some things were missing in my life. My career had taken me further and further from the things I was most passionate about, food and students. My true first loves of life. There was also this little issue with spending way too little time with my best friend and life partner. I was traveling around four campuses while my husband Joe was traveling around the globe. It became a rare occurrence to achieve quality time together or even to be home together. Both of us felt it time to rethink our lives. Enter Oil & Vinegar (culinary gift store).
Oil & Vinegar was a franchise concept that we both fell in love with.
WHY?
Firstly, because the products were of significant quality and I found it a great pleasure incorporating many of the ingredients and flavors into my creations. Secondly, I was determined to be focused on healthy eating and I have always had a love for the longevity and proven outcome of the Mediterranean lifestyle. The O&V product selection perfectly supports this lifestyle. Based on this, Joe and I decided to leave our corporate jobs, open the store, and get back to the things we loved most…food and each other. I have found that opening the store gave me the flexibility to create and experiment with new and amazing recipes.
