5 Question Friday With Chef Melinda De Santo from Chef Melinda's Home~Made

Hello and welcome to another edition of 5 Question Friday. On Fridays I find someone in Tacoma (or they find me) who is doing something interesting around here. Today’s guest is Chef Melinda De Santo from Chef’s Melinda’s Home~Made. Want to learn more? Here’s Melinda:

1. What is Chef Melinda's Home~Made?

Chef Melinda's Home~Made is a business I started last June making my home made gluten free Granola. It's delicious! It all started when I was waiting on my next Bed & Breakfast job. I am a traveling Inn keeper. I was making granola for guests and my sister told me my granola was so good I should bag it up people would buy it.

2. How did you get started?

I started begging it up and people loved it I started the farmers markets last June I'm now in 10 different stores and the Pacific Northwest. And I'm happy to say that I'm in for Farmer markets this season as well.

3. What is a favorite recipe you'd like to share?

My favorite recipe is of course is my granola I eat it every day for breakfast. It's made with gluten-free oats, almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pepitas, flaxseed, Millet, coconut oil, little cinnamon, vanilla, honey, and roasted to perfection. You can get it at Tacoma Boys 6th Avenue and Puyallup, Harbor greens University Place and Gig Harbor. Valley Farms River Road Stadium Thriftway you can get it at Coffee Katz in Tumwater.

4. Where can people find you and your food?

On Wednesdays you can catch me in Steilacoom Farmers Market, Thursday in Waterfront Gig Harbor Market, Saturday in Kent at their Farmers Market, and Sunday on North Pearl Ruston's Farmers Market.

5. What's something you wish everyone understood about cooking?

The one thing I wish everybody understood about cooking is you have to love what you're doing. Even if you're making dinner for your family and it's been a long day. Be simple and delicate with the food. Food is delicious when prepared right & prepared with love. Food always tastes better when prepared with love.

Thanks to Chef Melinda De Santo for participating in 5 Question Friday. If you or someone you know is interested in joining me for a 5 Question Friday email me at jackcameronis@gmail.com.

- Jack Cameron