After working several years as a private chef and food stylist and spending much of that time alone, Tara is thrilled to be in a community setting. She loves talking with residents in the dining room, making them feel at home, heard, and cared for, and hearing their stories. “I find them all so fascinating!” she says. For Tara, having compassion for where each resident is in their journey is key to best serving their needs.

Tara earned her chef’s apprentice certification from Opryland Hotel in Nashville. She also followed her dream to travel and learn, living in Nashville, New Orleans, Connecticut, New York, the British West Indies, Antigua, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Her first cooking position was for the BIG Apple circus which meant traveling up and down the east coast and feeing 50 people all day every day for two seasons. She’s also spent several years as a food stylist for television programs and movies such as The Bear, Fargo, Empire, and more.

In her spare time, Tara likes to hunt for vintage treasures or spend the day with family, which includes a daughter, stepdaughter, granddaughter, and Louise, a ten-pound “ball of fur”. Perfect vacation? “Anywhere on a beautiful beach with blue water and a great book!”