Abby grew up in Boulder, Colorado with busy working parents who nevertheless made a point of having dinner together — usually home cooked — almost every night. She started college with big plans to become a veterinarian, but soon found herself at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Costigliole d’Asti, in the Piedmont region of Italy, followed by a stage at Ristorante Magorabin in Turin.

After a transformative farm-to-table dinner at Tilth, in Wallingford, she applied for a job, and spent time working at her dream restaurant under Maria Hines. When Hines opened the Sicilian-inspired Agrodolce, Abby joined the team, working her way up to Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chef. Today she’s a freelance chef, caterer, and teacher, with a focus on locally grown, seasonal ingredients and a bit of Italian flair.