Lisa K Nakamura grew up in Hilo, Hawaii on a macadamia nut farm. Her love of words came about an early age, with nudges by Dr. Seuss and Beverly Cleary. She currently owns Allium Restaurant on Orcas Island, Washington. Her cooking resume includes time in the kitchens of Thomas Keller and David Kinch. Among her many adventures, she has studied botany, worked as a flight attendant, been a chef in Germany and Korea, and has stared down Hurricane Katrina. She is happily married and spends her time between her home in Seattle and on Orcas Island.