The Signs Were There All Along

As a family we should’ve known cooking was in her future. From a very young age my baby sister, Chef Lauren, has been dropping hints like little breadcrumbs that should have lead us to conclude what her career choice would be.

As a baby, around two or three years old, we use to call Chef the “Bag Lady” because she would always carry a plastic grocery bag on her arm with two essential tools: A big silver spoon and a plastic dish. She would go outside and find a little mud hole or sand hill and make, bake and remake mud pie or mud cake, even mud soup! Whatever she imagined she was cooking, she would stir it and pat it then start all over. We thought it was her just doing baby things, but little did we know it was a foreshadowing of her future.

Years later, when I was around 17, which would’ve made Chef around 11, I would call her from my summer job and ask her to “hook up” a chicken patty sandwich for me for lunch. Some days it would be a cheese omelet, but whatever it was it was delicious. She would happily oblige with no argument. I would be so amazed at how good it was and she would be so happy watching me eat and enjoy her food. I thought I was getting over on her, having my little sis work for free, but little did we know not only was I not getting over, I was propelling her into her destiny and enabling her to see the joy that cooking brought her.

Today, my sister is an established Business Woman and Chef. As time has marched on, I have experienced a specially created birthday menu just for me with course after course of food I never knew could be so delicious with her as the Chef. And, I have witnessed her executive side where I saw her manage the service of our parent’s birthday parties. I watched her command with confidence and yet maintain an approachableness that makes those who work with her and for her want to be and do great.

She may have come a long way from baking mud pies and hooking up chicken patty sandwiches in theory, but she is still the same little girl who just enjoys making people happy by preparing their food.

I couldn’t be more proud…

Chef Lauren Owens… my baby Sister.

Written by Lesley T Owens