In a little more than 24 hours Kimberly Andrade will begin setting up the Chef of All Trades booth on Cottrell Street for her Taste of Mystic debut. The personal chef shared with Patch her thoughts on the lessons food can teach, and the dish she says you have to try.
The Taste of Mystic featuring food samples and entertainment from around the region kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 7, and continues to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Q: Why did you decide to participate in the Taste of Mystic this year?
A: I am a personal chef and I was invited to be part of this event, because I host a Thursday night in Groton. I serve Jamaican Food (Ryan's Pub), and I have a lot of customers who love my food.
Q: What are you looking forward to about the Taste?
A: I am looking forward to letting people get to know who I am, what services I can provide, and of course taste my food! I enjoy meeting people and networking.
Q: What is your can’t miss dish, the one people have to try at the Taste?
A: Coconut chicken bites with tangy strawberry sauce! Yummm…
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant besides your own participating at the Taste?
A: Since I am not from this area, I have only had the opportunity to eat from from the list of restaurants.
Q: What cooking tips can you offer to those of us who don’t know an oven mitt from a catcher’s mitt?
A: Eat what you love and only until full. It keeps the mind and the body happy.
Q: What lessons about life can we learn from food?
A: Food is the center of life…it brings people together, it determines your health and it also creates relationships. This is why I enjoy being a personal chef so much, because I can nourish body, mind and soul from your kitchen.
This year Patch will be sponsoring the at the Taste of Mystic. During the three-day festival Taste goers will be able to text their votes for the People's Choice winner. Check Patch throughout the weekend for periodic updates on the food vendor in the lead.
