Coconut Coast Catering, Sarasota/Manatee- ABOUT US

Chef Lauren Craig

Born and raised in the beautiful Florida Keys, Chef Lauren is a true Florida conch. Though she has since moved on to explore both Florida coasts, she has brought with her an undying love for all of the Carribean and Latin cuisines she grew up on. Her love of tropical ingredients and fresh seafood is the epitome of an island girl. Chef Lauren has worked in the foodservice industry for over twelve years and has experience in many facets of the business. She studied both Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, obtaining degrees in each area of focus. She has a wide range of experience ranging from cooking in many small "Mom and Pop" style restaurants to working as the Executive Chef for a national hotel chain to marketing and consulting with chefs while working for one of North America's largest foodservice distributors. She has also enjoyed sharing her knowledge and experience as a cuilnary instructor both at a cooking school for children, and presently for the Culinary Arts program at a well known, accredited university. Chef Lauren also has a passion for nutrition which she enjoys coupling with her love for food and fresh ingredients to create healthy and delicious meals for all tastes and lifestyles.

Chef Nicole Martinelli

Nicole's deep love for cooking formed early, standing tip-toed on a chair to help her grandma stir pots on the stove. As an Italian girl growing up, the bond between family, food, and memories was apparent and the obsession with amazing cuisine began. Living "down the shore" in the Garden State provided her with locally caught fish and farm picked veggies, and the love for fresh, local ingredients came naturally. After graduating top of her class in Culinary Arts, she worked in premier hotels along the East Coast, including the Hotel Hershey and the historically famous Greenbrier. The sun and warmth lured her away from the Northeast to the Suncoast where she worked in prominent fine dining restaurants and natural food establishments. Inspired while attending cooking school in Italy, she realized her love for showing others how to prepare delicious food was the next step, and is now currently teaching Culinary Arts. When not sauteeing, Chef Nicole extends her interest in food to tending her own vegetable garden and enjoying nearby farmer's markets.