Chef Ayan’s love of food and cooking started at an early age in the kitchen with Grandfather Roscoe (Pappy) and her Grandmother Rosie. She was amazed at how food started one way and ended up another after being prepared by various cooking methods. In her youth, she utilized these skills acquired from her Grandparents to prepare meals for her family. It excited her to experiment with different cuisines and her parents encouraged her. Upon discovering her natural prowess for cooking she devoured every cookbook and recipe she could get her hands on. A student of Le Cordon Bleu, Ayan concentrates on technique without losing the soul of her cooking which is paramount to her philosophy, “cooking with love and loving to cook”. That statement is not a philosophy, but a passion that has allowed her to cook across the United States and around the world. She has received numerous accolades and awards including the top 100 of the best pumpkin recipes in the US by USA Today, a nominee for Best Chef in New Mexico, and Marquis Who’s Who Chef in America. In continuing the legacy bestowed by her Grandparents, Chef Ayan along with her Grandchildren, Jordan (Ms. JJ) and Riley (Cashman) created Watoto Spice. A blend of 17 herbs and spices meticulously cultivated and sourced. It is Chef Ayan’s mission to teach as she was taught, make the ingredient love, and leave a legacy for her descendants.