Hi everyone, I’m Claire, and I live on the central coast! I’m originally from a small town in the Central Valley and transferred to Cal Poly in the Fall of 2018. During my undergrad, I gained experience in the hospitality industry through waitressing, bartending, and catering opportunities.

 

After my undergrad, I transitioned from food to the non-profit industry, where I earned my restaurant manager certification and ran a kitchen. However, ever since I was a kid, I always knew that I wanted to work with food. I remember being in the kitchen with my Nana when I was younger and learning how to make tamales, and realizing how much food brings people together. 

 

My background in the hospitality industry and my love for food guided me to make charcuterie boards during my final year at Cal Poly. It was around Valentine’s Day weekend in 2021 that I knew that I had something that most people didn’t offer, and I decided to share my love of food with other folks. I wanted to make this experience very different than other businesses, where I offer an entirely personalized menu, and I’m also able to pair wines. I received so many inquiries after Valentine’s Day weekend to continue doing more boards, resulting in Charcuties by Claire. My hopes for this company are to expand it into a catering business or become a personal chef, so I can continue creating new connections through the beauty of food!

 

In my free time, I enjoy going to wineries, trying new restaurants, and going to the beach with my partner & my dog. When I'm not working, I like to bake extravagant meals for my partner or binge-watch Hell's Kitchen.