“She’s red and her name is Ruby.” We’ve all heard of naming cars, but most other types of inanimate objects usually don’t earn a term of endearment. Except, however, if it is a prized possession, and for Tiffany Mitchell CC’ 2010, that is exactly what her Kitchenaid stand mixer is. This may be a little unusual for some people, but for the president of Columbia’s Culinary Society, naming her ‘can’t live without’ kitchen tool is nothing short of appropriate.

Starting off our new Student Spotlight series, which aims to feature student chefs on campus, is a woman whose passion for cooking started when she was young.  As a self-taught cook, she initially experimented with baking dishes like cookies and cakes, including recipes that were very different from what her family often cooked.  Commenting on what she’s cooking these days she says, “I’m really into dishes that are healthy, but still very simple.” Her preferences include making dishes with as few ingredients as possible, and sticking to staples like garlic and cheese along with different herbs and spices to bring a meal together. Her favorite thing to eat? Really good seafood, especially steamed lobster tail, but she doesn’t deny her love for bread pudding as well: “It’s literally carbs, sugar, butter…in a pan and baked golden brown, and it’s the best thing in the world.” Some of her favorite eateries in NYC are Rosa Mexicana, and Agave(both Mexican restaurants). Yet, if you are a new cook who’s looking to cut down on eating out, her advice to you is simple:  be adventurous.

Aside from her own favorites, being a great cook also gains her the interest of the people around her. “Whenever I email people, even for classes and jobs, usually the first response that I get is ‘Oh hi, so I see you’re in the culinary society [via the signature on the bottom], you’re interested in cooking for us at any point?!’” Of course this could get a little frustrating when you’re emailing your TA about course requirements, but it seems that she is used to the attention that being a self proclaimed cook attracts. Among her family’s favorites is her red velvet cake that she often makes for birthdays, her fish tacos with a creamy garlic cilantro sauce, as well as her bread pudding with a special buttery rum sauce that she is often called upon to make for Thanksgiving.

Looking towards the future as the president of the Culinary Society, one of her main goals is to increase the membership of the general body. The first meeting for the society is Wednesday September 16^th on Lerner Ramp East  at 9pm. She also looks forward to the Herb and Spice tasting that the society will host on September 30^th. If you’re curious about just how good of a cook she is, check out society’s events throughout the year, and you might just be able to persuade her to make one of her specialties for you (just don’t tell her I said that).