The Artisan Palate is owned by Laura Martinez, who sees it as a way to bring her passions for celebrations, food, and writing together under one roof. Her food training comes from several enjoyable years behind The Pasta Shop's cheese counter and a lifetime of happily cooking for a large and appreciative family. Throughout her life she's enjoyed wonderful eating experiences in California and other parts of the world, but nothing has ever compared to the delights of flavor and aroma she's found in fresh, seasonal, and artisan food. In December 2005, she received an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco, where the appearance of food in her writing was so frequent she decided it was time to purposely write about food. She is the author of The Everything Cheese Book, (published by Adams Media, July, 2007), is on the Founding Board of the California Artisan Cheese Guild, works regularly with the California Olive Oil Council, and volunteers with the Center for Urban Education on Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA). A prior career with the University of California and an undergrad degree in economics provides her with a background in education, organizations, and business.