Talkin' Shop

Allison was born and raised in the Bay Area and received her degree in Marketing and Management at the University of Miami. From the moment Allison was born, she was ready to eat anything and everything, which led to a very chubby and happy baby. As a child, Allison would spend the weekends in the kitchen cooking with her dad and would try a new recipe every week. Instead of watching cartoons on weekend mornings, she watched Food Network instead. Her dream was to compete on The Next Food Network Star with her dad while her mom prepared the dishes behind the scenes to swap out with theirs because her mom was the real cook in the family. Before joining AF&Co., Allison helped open a new restaurant concept in Palo Alto and worked with multiple companies within the food and restaurant industry. Allison specializes in social media and is also known as @allie.eats on Instagram, where you can follow along with her food adventures in and around the Bay.

In February, I took off for a few days of R&R in Maui — and of course I had to eat at all the best places. Some highlights included my dish at Mama’s Fish House, Mama’s Stuffed Mahimahi & Lobster stuffed with crab and baked in a Macadamia nut crust with a lobster tail and Grilled Octopus with Big Island Chèvre, watercress and asparagus from Ka’ana Kitchen . 

Kelsey’s passion for food and cooking emerged from an early age when she first saw Julia Child flip an omelet on The French Chef. From family gatherings to Saturday mornings trying to perfect Bisquik pancakes, Kelsey’s appetite grew into an insatiable curiosity to conquer classic cooking techniques. Digesting cookbooks and food media quickly became her favorite hobby, leading her to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Kelsey quickly learned about restaurant operations, immerging herself in the industry from working in the kitchen on the line to working behind the bar shaking up cocktails. With a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreation Parks & Tourism Administration, Kelsey jump started her professional career in the non-profit sector working for a Private Business Improvement District, coordinating free Summer concert series, farmer’s markets, restaurant weeks, and weekend food festivals. Kelsey’s fervor for cuisine and the city life lead her to Los Angeles, where she represented Los Angeles-based restaurant groups and chefs continuing to expand her understanding of public relations and communications in the hospitality industry. After three years in Southern California, the Sacramento native found her way back to Northern California to pursue her love of food and cooking in San Francisco.

Kelsey’s professional background spans public relations and special event planning, with extensive knowledge in marketing communications including advertising campaigns, cooperative marketing programs, organizational branding, campaign launches, slicing, dicing, and chopping. You can find her her spending her weekends writing new recipes, running in the marina, scavenging antique markets for vintage cookware, and visiting friends and family all along the California coast.