Neumara Machado, Sous Chef

Neumara Machado, 43, is a sous chef at Sarah’s Tent Restaurant with a deep passion for cooking. She fell in love with cooking after she made her first meal: fish and rice.

“Cooking for me means clearing my head of everything,” said Machado. “You could say it is my medicine.”

Machado was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and left when she was 39 years old. She claims that it was the hardest decision of her life.

“I had to leave everything I ever cared about,” said Machado. “Until today, it still affects me a lot knowing that I am not close to my entire family and the city that I so much love.”

She left with her husband and son in search of a new and better life, and claims that she has overcome really harsh situations.

“Coming to a new country, learning a new language, and adapting to a new lifestyle is not easy, especially for a mother,” said Machado.

Sometimes when she is going through tough times, she keeps it to herself, and tries to not worry about her family back in Venezuela.

“The only things that keep me from those negative and sad thoughts is cooking,” she said,” and to know that my family is okay.”