34 years in my culinary journeys: a culinary memior from a rising star autistic culinary superstar chef

By Ava Marie Romero

This is an memior about my life of 34 years of my culinary journey as the award winning competition home cook born with autism and how my culinary journey begun in the food world

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312645912

Book preview

Table of contents Chapter 1: my humble beginnings as a south city girl born with a disability Chapter 2: my culinary journey has begun Chapter 3: high school culinary rebel Chapter 4: rising of a culinary heavyweight Chapter 5: meeting another culinary influencer: Rebecka Evans Chapter 6: I got my golden ticket to the world food championships Chapter 7: meeting my culinary idols Chapter 8: local media star studded TV appearances ( such as check please bay area and live in the bay tv) Chapter 9: the horror shops of covid 19 the lockdown year

Chapter 10: my masterchef once in a lifetime failed audition on the streets of San Francisco Lombard Street near Market Street Chapter 11: my culinary major comeback (ube bake off , san mateo county fair chopped mystery basket and return to teaching cooking classes Chapter 12: my special needs philanthropy (via west, David canepa protest for raging grannies Mack E Mickelson pool reopening Chapter 13: my demo days at warehouse 475 cds at Costco Chapter 14: meeting famous comedians from Ken jeong to pete lee

Chapter 15: my 10 year el camino high school reunion from rebel to culinary influencer

Chapter 1: My humble beginnings as a south city girl with a disability

As a kid growing up in south san Francisco California I had challenges but succeeded. I had am very over protective dad. My dad one year took me and my brothers Frankie and Billy to toys r us and he allow us to buy one thing and I wanted to buy 2 like my mom. But it was about budgeting and learning how to at the time. He let me have my barbie doll and all you little chef  girls out there and parents reading this. Teach kids about budgeting so important. But I had a wonderful mom who taught me to cook and took me out to lunch and she taught me social safety in the community and how to fight back In the real world. She says you can be your sweet real life situations and professionalism come in play especially with her husband my dad.

My teachers,  therapists and Para educators also encourage me to use kind words. Buy here’s my real story. At age 3 I was diagnosed with autism at a young age. My parents sacrifice to get me to the therapist after another until a good doctor found hope for me. They sent me prayers at age 6. I was able to speak and communicate and my mom was right it’s a blessing I want to thank all for helping me through this early intervention I wouldn’t be here it was  for those doctors.

I did has challenges before puberty before 8 or 9 I begin to progress and be a kid again.

In 1998. After leaving sunshine gardens elementary school in south san Francisco California I went to Portola elementary school in San Bruno California for the next 3 years through San mateo county office of education(because buri buri didn’t have a special education class all my friends from El Camino high culinary arts, drama the neighborhood kids were there but I was not awww) it was a real struggle to fit in. I was in the 4-6th grade in a special day class . There were no girld in my class all male classroom and I was the only female in the classroom. Some boys were nice but some were just a bunch of bullies. It was difficult. My mom was watching a severally autistic boy named Leo (he was like my friend Becky but worst) my heart goes out to his dad Mr. Leo banks Sr. Who died of cancer all that kid ate was 3 helpings of mac and cheese and me and my brothers got none. I did help my mom put it spark my interest in special needs philanthropy work.

I did had wonderful teachers and paraeducators in thar class Ms. McArdle at the time was the center of attention. She wanted us to succeed. I do remember she told us students (If I see Pokémon cards in class I will take them away) she was doing a Tina fey impression in class in front of us when it came to the discussion. My class was not happy but I had to learn to deal with it. There were 2