Vanessa Bush, is a former executive editor and lifestyle director at Essence magazine, staff writer at Life and Glamour magazines, and co-author of the best-selling book, Tyra's Beauty Inside & Out (HarperCollins). She left the 'media elite' in 2008 to follow her bliss and launch a culinary career as owner of Around-The-Way Gourmet Services. Vanessa, a graduate of Harvard University and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, is a 2009 degree candidate at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts in New York City, where she specializes in health-supportive cuisine. When she isn't serving up delectable dishes, teaching novices how to cook and shop like a chef, or developing recipes for a parenting website, she's a contributing food writer and blogs about her life as a foodie.

On-site meal preparation: family meals for the week
Date night catering
Dietary/restricted meal plans (gluten-free, diabetic, vegetarian)
Nutrition counseling
Convalescent and new Mom meals
Interactive dinner parties for small groups
In-home private and group cooking lessons
Healthy pantry makeovers
Recipe development and food styling
Cookbook consultation and editing

1. For your next party, hire wait staff from your favorite restaurant vs. from a catering company; it may be more cost-effective.
2. Instead of a full bar, serve a signature cocktail at your next party.
3. When selecting a centerpiece for your dining table think of natural attractions -- fruit, colorful stones or branches & twigs.

4. Borrow a trick from upscale restaurants and serve desserts with a sauce, such as chocolate cake with a raspberry brandy drizzle.
5. Shop like a chef -- make friends with your local grocer/butcher and seek their advice on the best buys of the week.
6. Economy Savings Tip: Serve small bites! Instead of a lavish sit-down dinner, host a tasting serving small bites instead of a full-course meal.