Welcome to Julia’s Coastal Kitchen — a coastal food blog inspired by family recipes, life by the sea, and the flavors that shape us. From growing up in Warren, Pennsylvania to building a life in Monterey County wine country — and now preparing to begin again along the Florida coast — food has always been the thread connecting every chapter of my story.
I was born in Warren, PA — a small town east of the Mississippi where families gather around dinner tables, recipes are passed down like heirlooms, and food tells a story long before anyone realizes it.
When I was twelve, my family packed up and moved across the country to Carmel Valley — a quiet, beautiful place that would later become known as the heart of Monterey County wine country. Back then, there were only a handful of wineries. Today, the valley is celebrated for its world-class vineyards, but when we first arrived, it was still very much a hidden gem.
Moving meant one thing: starting over.
And with that came creating our own traditions.
Family Recipes & Cultural Roots
Some of my earliest memories live in my grandmother Mem’s kitchen. She had a way of cooking that didn’t fully rely on recipes — lots of instinct and love — and those meals taught me something before I ever understood it: food has a soul.
On my dad’s side, our family traces back to French-Canadian roots through Salem and Marlborough, Massachusetts before settling in Pennsylvania. My grandfather passed away before I was born, but his story lives on in us. During World War II, he served as a military photographer while secretly studying to become a chemical engineer — hitchhiking to college and hiding books in the barracks when studying wasn’t encouraged.
Food in those years was humble, meaningful, and rooted in tradition. Lobster — unbelievably — was once inexpensive in Massachusetts and a staple alongside French-Canadian flavors that quietly shaped our family meals. That influence never left me.
On my mom’s side, my grandfather’s parents immigrated from Sweden. Swedish meatballs were sacred in our family — especially at Christmas. I (along with many cousins) once claimed to hate them, but now they’re one of my favorite holiday traditions.
My grandmother’s father was an editor for the Philadelphia Enquirer before moving to Warren to work at New Process Company (later Blair). Stories mattered in our family just as much as recipes. Maybe that’s why I love both.
How San Francisco Shaped My Cooking Style
After college, I did what so many dream of — I moved to San Francisco.
I worked in digital media for Ubisoft as a digital media coordinator, which came with an unexpected perk: being wined and dined in some of San Francisco’s finest restaurants.
Once you experience that level of food, creativity, and hospitality… it stays with you.
It’s hard not to fall in love with food in San Francisco.
Not the kind you just eat.
The kind you remember.
Moving to Monterey & Falling in Love
In February 2015, I moved back to Monterey around the same time as my now-husband, Scott.
Scott came to study Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School. Funny enough, my dad majored in Industrial Engineering — the civilian term for the same field.
I came home to Monterey County because it was home… and because I could work remotely while still traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Several months later, we met.
Our first date unfolded like a script: wine at Taste of Monterey, another glass at Carmel Ridge (where my parents were longtime friends with the owner — unbeknownst to Scott as he tried to impress me), dinner at Zum Sushi, and a few days later, a BBQ celebration and fireworks at Lover’s Point over Monterey Bay.
That night ended with Bob Dylan, wine, and conversations that lasted until morning.
The very next day? The Gilroy Garlic Festival.
That might’ve been the moment he truly knew what he was getting into.
Life, Family & Coastal Cooking Today
Today, I live in Monterey with my family — but we’re standing on the edge of our next chapter.
Very soon, we’ll be trading the California coast for a brand new one in Florida.
And with it comes new kitchens, new traditions, and new flavors.
We’re excited to explore local seafood, Southern comfort food, fresh citrus, and the ingredients that shape Florida’s coastal cooking. It’s a new region, a new rhythm, and a whole new community to learn from.
This blog is no longer just about where we have been…
…it’s about where we’re going.
From Monterey Bay to miles of Atlantic shoreline, Julia’s Coastal Kitchen is evolving — just like our family. You’ll find familiar favorites from our past alongside brand-new recipes inspired by life on the water in Florida.
Food is still my constant.
Cooking is my creative outlet.
It’s how I unwind.
How I express love.
How I remember.
How I imagine.
Every day, I ask myself:
What do I already have?
What can I create?
What will tonight taste like?
What You’ll Find Here
Julia’s Coastal Kitchen is where coastal cooking meets family tradition. Here you’ll find heirloom recipes, seafood dishes, holiday favorites, and simple meals that feel special — all inspired by life in Monterey County and beyond… and now the Florida coast.
This kitchen is where all of it comes together.
Welcome in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is coastal cooking?
Coastal cooking focuses on fresh ingredients, seafood, and seasonal dishes inspired by life near the ocean.
What type of recipes do you share?
Family recipes, coastal meals, Swedish traditions, and everyday comfort food.
Where is Julia’s Coastal Kitchen based?
We’re transitioning from Monterey County, California to the Florida coast — documenting food, flavors, and family traditions along the way.