Future Kirkland resident Melissa d’Arabian, who is featured on The Next Food Network Star, will be hosting a viewing part at Hector’s in Kirkland on Sunday from 5-8 p.m. She is a home cook who pairs her varied culinary and life experiences to provide food lifestyle solutions and approachable recipes for today’s families.
As a stay-at-home mom to four young daughters, she efficiently budgets time and money to prepare the finest in fresh, home-cooked meals every day. D’Arabian, 40, finds culinary inspiration in family, friends, cooking classes, and world travels. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at University of Vermont then went on to get her MBA from Georgetown University and is married to Philippe, whom she met working for Disney in Paris. D’Arabian has four daughters: Valentine, 4, Charlotte, 3, and Margaux and Oceane, who are one and a half-year-old twins).
D’Arabian was born in Anaheim, Calif., and moved throughout her childhood to Tucson, Ariz.; San Diego, Calif.; and Bethesda, Md. She moved to Keller, Texas in June 2006 with her family and lived there until June 2009. She and her family recently moved to Kirkland, Wash., due to her husband’s new job.
D’Arabian held a variety of interesting jobs throughout her life including: serving as private chef for a family of seven, singing on Mediterranean cruise ships, working for Disney in Burbank and Paris, business and strategy consulting, and waitressing. She stopped the majority of her work in summer 2007 when she was put on bed rest with the twin pregnancy. She has been an active member in various community groups and volunteer organizations.
She has been passionate about cooking from a very young age and understands that today’s families have diverse backgrounds and needs. These families don’t just need recipes, but they need food lifestyle solutions, and her experience provides the opportunity to share great ideas and recipes for any kind of family. She strives to create the right meals for all members of her family and for all phases of life with a family (from pregnancy to baby/toddler foods to impressing the in-laws to serving a huge family feast). D’Arabian believes that more than ever, we are seeing thriftiness in moms who may not need to be thrifty, but actually desire to be and enjoy being budget conscious and business-savvy. She makes delicious, family-friendly food on a budget.
