From the Fridge to the Flame

What started as a way to relieve stress turned into a passion, a business, and now a way to help others feel at home around food and fire.

lifestyle

My name is Alexandra Donnadio, I began cooking as a way to relieve stress. A way to clear my head from emotions I wasn't ready to deal with. At first, I would spend hours in the kitchen making pasta from scratch drowning the world outside. At that time in my life, cooking was about having something to focus on which is why I think I fell in love with the patience needed for open fire cooking.

About five years ago when I met Aaron (https://www.instagram.com/losi_cooks?igsh=bXptNXdxNW9oMjZn) we'd have "Sunday Funday" at our old apartment. Everyone would be watching football and I stayed in the kitchen to cook. There was something internally peaceful about being surrounded by people I care about, but still having the space to do my own thing. It’s ironic that a room full of people yelling at a football game still allowed me to clear my head.. Now because I always made to much food, I'd get creative with left overs during the week finding different ways to turn them into something new. One day, Aaron unwillingly convinced me to start posting my food on social media. I was honestly a little hesitant because I was officially about two years into my law enforcement career where the environment had a very old school way of thinking: work was suppose to be your entire life. People were quick to judge anything outside of that, and honestly I cared too much back then about what people thought.

Ironically, it wasn't just Aaron pushing me; my dad used to always say “you need a hobby outside of your job. Do not make work your life.” However, I don't think he ever expected me to take it as far as I have, but looking back I am so grateful I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.

Since I started posting on social media, I have built relationships and had opportunities I never could have imagined. What started as sharing a creative way to use left overs opened the door to opportunities such as being a contestant on Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay, and BBQ Brawl with Bobby Flay. I've organized my own open fire cooking event "Ember of Valor" to raise money for veterans and suicide awareness, assisted in organizing other large events, began recipe development for various companies.

I've had the chance to emcee at events like Memphis in May now two years in a row, travel internationally to compete in the International cooking Competition in Taipei where I placed third.

These are things I never saw coming, and all stemming from sharing what I love to do.

At the end of the day, whether it's open fire cooking or simple meals in your kitchen, my goal is to share recipes and ideas that feel approachable but still have creativity behind them.

If there is one thing I learned in all of this, it's that cooking doesn't need to be intimidating. You don't need to have it all figured out before you start. Sometimes it's as simple as lighting a fire, picking up a knife and seeing where the flavor takes you.

So follow along "with Zandge."