about MISSY WILL

When Seattle Dining's editor Connie Adams sat down to chat with Missy Will in 2010, she sensed immediately she was meeting a woman of passion. She wrote, "Catering takes many forms; it all depends on what the customer is looking for. Many caterers have a specialty, a niche they fill. In Missy Will’s case, it’s all about the balance between food and wine"

Ask anyone who has ever worked with Chef Missy Will and they will all tell you the same story - she is a romantic at heart when it comes to pairing food and wine. Her attention to detail, her warm and engaging personality are quickly noticed when people come to her company events and cooking classes. She is the first to say that. In the kitchen, she cooks with her soul and treats every kitchen she works in, as her “Sacred Space”.

Her passions took root early in life. From Seattle Dining: "She was raised to eat in a healthy manner and respect the food they raised in their garden. Meals were based on what foods spoke to them; what they desired to eat that day. Her parents paired wine with each dinner."

What led her to Washington state two years ago and now to the Napa-Sonoma area in Northern California was a desire to take her culinary experiences to the next level. Corporate life and a marriage was ending after 25 years, but "being on her own" was the beginning of a new career. For years, she designed, executed and assisted dinner events for her husband's clients. Seattle Dining observed, "Unlike most corporate wives, these were not just in their home. They would take over restaurants or museums. After 25 years of this, you get pretty good."

Chef Missy's journey to the Washington wine country included stops at Sizzleworks Cooking School and Woodhouse Wine Estates. By 2010, she was ready to strike out on her own. Her goal is to be the "go to" caterer for wineries, the corporate community, and for anyone considering a in-home or special event. Her food and wine pairings include pairing Spanish wines with Spanish menus, but her focus is on the great variety of Washington wines, and to support local producers and growers.

Chef Missy Will's love affair with food will have you quickly sharing - and enjoying - her passions for food and wine. She also introduced in 2008 her own monthly Newsletter, "From the Vine....." dedicated to Missy's unique take on wine, area events, and news on who's who in the wine community in Washington.

Career Highlights

2009
Executive Chef/Events Director, Woodhouse Family Cellars, Woodinville, WA
Consulted with the winery to organize and present private events, corporate events, team-building programs, and cooking classes. In 5 months, hosted 25 different events, with more than 1,500 clients guests in the kitchen. Corporate clients include Microsoft, Land O Lakes, U.S. Fire Marshals, Whole Foods, Seattle Dentists Study Group, Corinthian College, Trilogy Community Resort.

2008
Sizzleworks Cooking School, Bellevue, WA
Executive Chef, Operations, including team-building, corporate event planning, private events, wine tastings, guest chef nights, local winemaker dinners.

2006 – 2007
Villa Cucina Culinary Center and Cooking School, San Clemente, CA
Chef Consultant, working with contractors and owners to build a professional Viking kitchen inside a high-end cooking store. Culinary School Director, creating recipes and designing classes (both hands-on and demonstration), corporate events, wine tastings and wine dinners. Hired and trained a staff of 16, which included instructors, executive chefs, and assistants.

Memberships:
Washington State University events planning committee; Board of Directors, Seattle Wine Society (2009-2010); Board of Directors, Event Planning, Woodinville Chamber of Commerce; Women for WineSense, Seattle chapter; Woodinville Wine Country Association.

Affiliations/Certifications:
Member, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs’ Association; The American Institute of Wine and Food; Member, Seattle chapter, Chaines Des Rotissrurs; Laguna (Calif.) Culinary Arts Professional Chef Program, Certification; Graduate of WSET, a division of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Limited, received WSET Level 2 Intermediate Certificate.