Jamie Lualhati, Neighbor

I'm a California girl through and through with a pinch of Island flavor. I was born in the Valley, that's San Fernando Valley for you. Then my family and I made our way to kama'aina living on the Oahu where I was blessed with beaches, 24/7 sandal wearing, and tropical wonderlust. Called Oahu home until 1999, then I made the East Bay of San Francisco Bay Area home. I've been a East Bay girl for 13 years. I'm a single mother currently raising my social bug of a teenage daughter. I have a wonderful "plus one", who is my partner in crime of foodie investigation. I'm also an adopted mother to my two Maine Coon cats.

Let's talk food.

I was a picky eater with typical kid tendencies to live on junk food; large amounts of sugar; and stuffing my Mom's dishes into my napkin and making sure it reached the bottom of the trash bin. That all changed. I started to evolve. Eating simple dishes I never ate, like a hamburger at the age of 17! Then my boycott against vegetables ceased to exist when I was given homegrown vegetables with my dinner one day. I was testing myself. Wondering if what was in front of me going to be just as taste worthy as it looked. One bite, I knew my life as a picky eater had ended. I'm a world traveler and food explorer. I have had the culinary delights of Europe to Southeast Asia. I have divulged on snake jerky to foie gras. What excites me whenever I look up a new place to eat is the anticipation that what I'm about it to eat is going to revolutionize my palate. And it can be simple by just simply enjoying a good meal where ever I am!

I'm not sure if its fate, I'm still waiting for the confirmation letter, but I also work around food for a living. I'm an administrative assistant to the Research & Development Executive Chef of a pasta company. Therefore, if I'm not learning how food is made, I'm also developing all five senses to reach maximum level. So, am I a foodie? To myself I am, as I have my own definition of what a foodie is. And I hope I can sure my appreciation to the masses.