Sara
McCormick holds one of the most coveted positions
of many young chefs coming to Los Angeles. As
the private chef in the home of one of Hollywood’s
biggest names, Quentin Tarantino, Sara shares
with us the experience of paying her dues while
moving forward in her passion and vision. Anyone
traveling the road to a dream knows it may look
glamorous from afar, but by no means is every
minute of that journey always “glamorous”.
At
the young age of nine, Sara was in charge of special
family dinner menus, created meals by taste, and
even whipped up a batch of Bloody Marys. Shortly
after, she volunteered at her uncle’s restaurant
where she washed dishes, bussed tables, swept
the floors, and did just about anything to make
her way into the kitchen. She soon reached a plateau
in her hometown Milwaukee, and knew it was time
to leave the comforts of home, friends, and family.
Sara was ready to launch out into the unknown.
With
a heart full of drive, an attitude of hustle,
one pocket having $350, and the other pocket holding
a traffic ticket for $298; Sara felt Los Angeles
would be her best bet. She slung coffee and held
a few other small jobs to get on her feet. Sara’s
hustle and flow landed her a gig @ the Four Seasons
Hotel working as the youngest staff member (and
female, age 18) in the kitchen at the time. She
calls it her “Four Seasons College”,
the place that gave her a priceless education.
Sara learned the cursings of many different languages,
worked along side the best chefs in the city,
and saw how food can really unite us all.
Sara’s
opportunity to meet Quentin Tarantino came knocking.
She had paid her dues, knew she had a gift, and
had gained confidence through the experience of
failing and getting back up again. Because of
this, Sara knew how to present herself in the
moment of opportunity. Sara won over Quentin’s
taste and has been taking the heat in his kitchen
for the last 6 years! Congrats Sara on being a
fine example of a Freedom Child!
