Lisa Cook's Craft

Please introduce yourself and the work that you do.
My name is Lisa Cook and I am the Wine Director for Osteria Savio Volpe, Pepino’s Spaghetti house and Caffe La Tana.

What does craft mean to you?
To me craft means sharing in one’s passion. It’s about the desire to learn and continue to evolve that passion.

Why wine? How did your relationship with wine start?
Wine can be quite intimidating and also expensive in some cases. Many people shy away from trying new wines because they are afraid they won’t like them so I want to introduce them to new experiences and teach them how to make wine selection more enjoyable.

My relationship with wine started in my twenties while I was cooking and discovered the connection between food and wine. From there I started hosting dinner parties for my friends and colleagues where I would prepare a menu that included wine pairings for each course.

You started your journey in food and beverage going to culinary school to pursue being a chef. How do you feel your experience as a chef has complemented your passion for wine?
Being a chef introduced me to a variety of different ingredients and flavors. It also taught me how to combine those flavors to create a well balanced dish. That has helped me to detect specific aromas and flavors in wine. I’m constantly looking for that balance when I select wines and I also look for wines that complement the food I imagine people will eat with that wine.

What is one thing that wine has taught you?
Wine has taught me how to connect with people. It’s a brilliant way to get to know someone by discovering their likes and dislikes. So many people have had an emotional experience with wine and I love being able to hear about those experiences.

What is it about wine that inspires you to create, learn from share with others everyday?
Wine is a living and breathing organism. Depending on where it is grown or when it is picked or how it’s farmed, it shows a different expression. It can change and develop over time, not just with years in a barrel or bottle, but within minutes in a glass. I like that evolution.

How has your craft shaped your relationship with the world? What is a lesson you have learned/ taken away from your craft over the years?
Wine connects you to the place it came from. Learning about where that wine is grown or the environmental challenges it’s faced inspires me to visit those places so I can share those experiences with others. Learning about wine has taught me that the work is never really complete. There is always something new to discover.

What is one thing that wine has taught you?
Wine has taught me how to connect with people. It’s a brilliant way to get to know someone by discovering their likes and dislikes. So many people have had an emotional experience with wine and I love being able to hear about those experiences.

Burnout is a constant concern, especially in the food and hospitality industry. How do you stay grounded and in flow with your work?
Being in this industry is challenging because it’s fast paced and every day you’re faced with a new set of obstacles. I’ve just started coming around to this idea of self care and listening to what my body needs. Spending quality time with my friends and family and also setting aside time for myself. I’m fortunate that wine is as much a hobby as it is a career so a lot of tasting and research that I do is enjoyable to me and doesn’t ever feel like work.

What is one thing you are looking forward to evolving, learning next or growing into with your craft?
Buying predominantly Italian wine over the last several years certainly has its perks, but doesn’t really allow me to discover other wines except on my own time. I like to try new wines from other countries whenever possible. I’m looking forward to new ventures that will allow me to broaden my wine skills.