Erin Campbell’s love for traditional cooking and international experience have been the catalyst that led her to create Canape Catering.
Growing up in an Italian-American family, in the heart of New York City, Erin’s love for cooking developed early on in the kitchen and into her teen years working for a local restaurant making homemade salad dressings and simple sauces. That’s where her love for all things homemade started. She learned early on that making things from scratch was not only often easier, but resulted in better taste.
Homemade, fresh, local ingredients are pillars to her recipes and Canape Catering. This is what sets Canape Catering apart from the rest.
Her love of food and hospitality continued through college as she interned at the Ritz Carleton in Marina Del Rey. She went on to graduate from the University of Delaware with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. Weeks after graduation she moved to London and found a home for three years at Baker & Spice, a small Chelsea eatery specializing in family style gourmet, fresh breads, and pastries.
From London, Erin moved back to New York City to work for catering companies such as Union Square Events as well as becoming corporate catering manager for a New York favorite, Hale and Hearty Soups. After several years in New York, travel and adventure called her to a brief stint in Ethiopia, cooking for dignitaries and training local chefs in the early development of their culinary scene.
The culmination of this experience eventually led her here to San Diego where she has been for the past 5 years. Her experience in San Diego has been marked by working in all different facets in the local culinary landscape. While working as Chef De Cuisine for Brothers Signature Catering, she found mentorship with Executive Chef Augie Saucedo.
In 2015, Erin was awarded the Chef Celebration scholarship which included a week long intensive training at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley for the up and coming chefs of San Diego.
Though her experience is vast, Erin is humble and knows that every craft should be worked on continuously. To keep her skills sharp, Erin consistently participates in events throughout the community including assisting Chef Augie, a captain in the 2015 Chef Showdown competition, Collaboration Kitchen sponsored by Catalina Offshore as well as Specialty Produce, the 2015 San Diego Beer Week Chef Celebration event at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, as well as numerous charitable events and festivals around San Diego.