Originally from California, Kelila is an American who has been living in New Zealand for many years. She has been cooking, quite literally, her whole life, and can't actually remember when her love for food first took root. As a girl Kelila was always in the kitchen helping her mother, who is a professional chef. Kelila, a professional chef herself, is currently completing her PhD in food studies. She has been classically trained through old-fashioned apprenticeship, and has now been teaching culinary arts for the past ten years. She enjoys working with local ingredients to create everything from classic Kiwiana to contemporary fare. While Kelila's training offers her a large culinary repertoire to draw upon, she prefers home-cooked styles. Kelila loves sharing her knowledge of food with others and believes there is no better way to connect to people than around the kitchen table! Kelila lives in quaint, clean, and comfortable home in a suburb just outside Auckland's city center. You will be warmly welcomed with some local snacks and a (non-alcoholic) beverage such as a pear and rosemary spritzer while Kelila adds some finishing touches to your meal. Kelila has a very charismatic and bubbly personality, and she is keen to share her knowledge of food and different cuisines, so make sure you ask her questions! She was brought up in Sonoma, California, eating food rooted in American regionalism, but Kelila has never stopped learning about other cuisines and cultures through training and travel. Her cooking is truly international! Later, join Kelila in her dining room or garden (weather permitting) for a seasonal meal that showcases Pacific Rim and Kiwi cuisine with an international twist. A few dishes that you may try are Hawks Bay plum and manuka honey-glazed lamb ribs, plov (rice and carrots cooked in a seasoned broth), grilled peach and avocado salad, or stone fruit pavlova. If you book a cooking experience, join Kelila (who has worked as a professional culinary instructor for many years) in her kitchen for a hands-on lesson. The cooking portion of your experience will last for 1-2 hours, during which you will learn to make a starter, a main dish, and a dessert. Kelila also offers an optional market tour add-on where she will take you for a tour of Otara Market, 20 minutes from her home.