Meet Kate – Recipe Creator + Food Photographer

My Mission

I created this blog to share my love of food and help inspire others who may not have been so lucky to have loved ones around to help them get comfortable in the kitchen.

Hi! I’m Kate

I’ve been cooking since before I can remember, but my mother likes to credit my first attempts to about age 3. She would pull up a stool and allow me to pour in pre-measured ingredients like sugar and flour. My interest quickly took hold and soon she was letting me test my own creations in the kitchen. To this day, my mother and I still love to cook together, sharing recipes, tips and techniques.

From Learning to Cook in Rural Montana…

Growing up in a small rural community meant I lived close to much of my family. Sunday’s were usually spent at Grandma Muriel’s house gathered around the table. After my grandmother realized I enjoyed cooking, she took me under her wing and quickly taught me everything she knew – from pie and candy to fried chicken and gravy! (This earned me a coveted spot in the grandma’s kitchen during the holidays as the “gravy stirrer.”)

…to Creative Exploration in Portland

When I moved to Portland for art school, my love for food and creating delectable cuisine at home really began to ignite. Being able to dine in one of the best foodie cities in the US has driven me to be constantly inspired to push myself to learn new recipes and techniques.

Portland is also nestled next to one of the best wine regions in the US, giving me easy access to new wines and exciting pairings!

And now What’s On Kate’s Plate!

I live for the challenge of tasting a dish at a restaurant and then learning to recreate it at home. And that’s how What’s on Kate’s Plate was born!

Here I share recipes inspired by restaurants from around the globe for home chefs like you! Through tips and tricks I have picked up in my 30 plus years of cooking, I hope to make “fancy” home cooking more approachable and rewarding. Additionally, I happily incorporate my passion for wine and offer wine pairings for most of my recipes.

And if you love to travel too – check out my dining out and winery guides from some of my very favorite places!

“…no one is born a great cook. One learns by doing.”

– Julia Child

I have found sometimes the last thing missing to get someone in the kitchen is hands on help. Because of this, I am offering one-on-one lessons both remotely and in-person (as the situation allows) to help you navigate some of the more complicated recipes. These can range from a short Zoom call to check in and make sure you are doing something correct or a fully customized experience with meal plans, grocery lists and remote or live assistance from start to finish. I can’t wait to cook with you!

Outside the Kitchen

I love being involved in events and have been lucky enough to make a career in event management for the past 8 years. You can see some of the amazing events I’ve worked on at my event management portfolio. Please inquire if you have any event planning needs. I offer custom coordination, consulting and styling.

Green Thumb

My mother enrolled me in Garden Club shortly after I was born so all four living generations of women on her side would belong at the same time. This passion for watching things grow stuck and I continue to surround myself with plants and a garden when weather permits.