MANY TALENTED AND dedicated people helped make this book possible. I am so grateful to everyone for creating a beautiful book that exemplifies my passion for cooking, music, and caring for people. The pages come alive with many of my life’s special moments, amazing culinary and travel experiences, and important life lessons.
To my wonderfully supportive business partner and friend, Jennifer Markson, thank you for dusting off my original manuscript and giving it new life. You brought together a great team to make this project an overwhelming success.
Thank you to David Welday and your gifted group of writers, designers, and project managers at HigherLife Publishing and Marketing; Andy Butcher, Will Hadley, and Michelle Buckley.
Thank you to Todd Moen and Leif Johnson at Interactive Apparel for making my book the first to include your company’s new interactive technology. These new features greatly enhance my stories, making them colorful and lively while providing the reader with more information and a heightened entertainment value.
I had the great pleasure of working side by side with two talented and internationally recognized television and movie score composers, Neil Argo and Peter Vamos. I can’t express in words the extent of my gratitude for the beautiful original music CDs you both created for this project.
To David Cogan, founder of Eliances. Thank you for creating an amazing support network of professionals in the Phoenix area, many of whom I can now call friends. I have never met so many extraordinary people as I have each week at the Eliances meetings.
Christine Jeffries, thank you for sharing your angelic voice on the Mozart children’s CD and participating in filming my special “virtual” dinner for this book. To you and Kim Minert, I relish our friendship and it has been a joy to get to know you both. Your helping me network with new people through Eliances has been invaluable to my continued success.
To photographer Christopher Barr and production manager Jane Janssen, you both went above and beyond scouting out locations and finding the perfect spot to shoot the book cover images. You are an outstanding team, your creativity is limitless, and the artistic value of the photos is incredible!
Thank you to Lylah and Michael Ledner at The Simple Farm in Scottsdale, Arizona, for providing the perfect outdoor setting for Christopher Barr to capture beautiful images surrounded by nature’s best.
To Dan Watts and your son, Chase, with NextWorld Media, you were both a pleasure to work with filming the “virtual” dinner and promotional video for my book. Your vision of the project, attention to detail, and storytelling ability is truly amazing and brought my book to life!
To Melissa Goodwin at AllState Appliances in Scottsdale, Arizona, I am grateful for your support and generosity in opening your lovely kitchen showroom area for me to film my recipe videos with NORMSCAR Video Productions.
To my food photographer, Rick Gayle, and food stylist, Kim Krejca, you managed to capture mouthwatering images of my food creations. Everyone who has seen the photos wants to pick the food up off the page and put it in their mouth. You are a pleasure to work with!
Reid Price, it was such a pleasure working with you to create a beautiful website. Your talent and work ethic are unmatched and well beyond your years! I wish you continued success in your new career. Many thanks also to Miranda Gilbert at Girl Geek Communications and Laura Bailey at Pen and Light Creative. Your proficiency with web design and establishing the new blog and online commerce capability has been instrumental to our success.
To Darcie Rowan and Heather Huzovic at Darcie Rowan PR agency, your expertise in book marketing and publicity has been an invaluable contribution. It is a pleasure working with both of you!
To Christian Paier, who placed me as private chef for Bob and Dolores Hope. Thank you for giving me the opportunity that jump-started my career and opened the door for other celebrities to hire me.
To my new friend Lulu, I can’t thank you enough for your steadfast patience, support, and encouragement that always lift my spirit. Your wardrobe selections and makeup consultation made the photographs and video project a great success.
To my longtime friend Gisele Velos, you have always been there to support me and ready to say “yes” whenever I asked for help. I can’t ever thank you enough!
Thank you to our fabulous attorneys who helped form Chef Zipora Enterprise: Barbara Luther, patent attorney, and Jeana Morrissey, business attorney. We truly appreciate your sound advice and direction. You made the process easy and enjoyable!