Food and a passion for cooking have always been a part of Chef Margaret Mehigan Brafchak's life. "I grew up strongly influenced by my Italian grandfather and his love of food." Margaret says, "He would bring over recipes for my mom to prepare, and enjoyed telling us stories of what he had made in his kitchen during the week." Both of Margaret's grandmothers were accomplished cooks in their families. "I recently acquired recipes written in my grandmother's hand. I can't wait to try them out!"

Preparing for family holiday dinners is a wonderful memory for Margaret. "It wasn't just the preparation of the meal itself that was exciting," she explains, "but the days prior to the holiday that we spent together shopping and finding the perfect ingredients."

Ironically, Margaret spent most of her early adult life away from food, working in the business world. With a degree in history and a minor in English, cooking was pushed to the background as she pursued jobs in the technical and banking industries. After marrying husband Joe in 1999, Margaret began to be inspired in the kitchen again. Since both were working nine to five, she would prepare meals on the weekends to be eaten during the week. "Luckily, I have a great husband who didn't mind leftovers!" she laughs.

The year 2001 changed Margaret's life. After being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, she decided that she would be more fulfilled working in a profession that would give her the opportunity to help others, as well as incorporate her passion for cooking. "The support and overwhelming amount of caring that I received during my illness was so wonderful," Margaret says, "I wanted to do something with the rest of my life that paid tribute to that kindness." It was because of this experience that she began researching the personal cheffing field. "Of all the personal cheffing organizations that I looked at, I was most impressed by the Personal Chefs Network. Everyone was so helpful and positive, even before I became a member. I have gained so much knowledge from my fellow chefs. I can't imagine not being a member."

Since its inception in May 2003, Meals by Margaret has been devoted to helping people. "My client base is so diverse; I have couples, families, and single people who are looking to eat well without relying on fast-food," she says. Offering low carb and reduced calorie options allows Margaret to accommodate many different tastes and diet plans.

When she's not in the kitchen, Margaret enjoys working in her community. She is a member of the Welcome Wagon Club of Medina and the Junior League of Akron, both of which are civic and social organizations. As a result of her experience with breast cancer, Margaret is able to mentor other young women who are battling the disease. "By surviving breast cancer, I am able to offer hope to others who are beginning their fight."

To continue to expand her business, Margaret is preparing to open a commercial kitchen in Medina this fall. Having access to a health department licensed facility will enable her to serve more clients as well as enter into the small catering business. "I'm very excited to be able to offer catering to corporate clients including breakfasts, lunches to go, and meals for dinner meetings. Plus, I can grow my client base through meal delivery. This way, all meal preparation for personal cheffing clients and dinner parties will take place on-site in my kitchen which will allow me to work with more than one client per day." she explains. Also being considered for the new facility is the possibility of holding cooking classes and food demonstrations. "I'm looking forward to this new venture," Margaret says, "It's a great opportunity and gives me the ability to explore new venues in the foodservice industry."