Paola Westbeek

After graduating from Leiden University in 2007, Paola Westbeek decided to follow her heart and begin an exciting career in the world of food. Her company, Mijn Zoete Leven, which literally means 'my sweet life' in Dutch, aims to promote real food. Paola's passion for food goes beyond cooking. She is convinced that a good meal begins with the use of good products and that's why she prefers to cook with quality seasonal ingredients produced with respect for nature.

Besides being a food writer and offering cooking lessons in her home, she also conducts culinary tours through the lively city of Amsterdam. During these one- of- a- kind excursions, participants get a chance to visit some of the city's most delicious addresses. At the end of the tour, Paola guides participants through one of her favorite markets- the Noordermarkt- the first organic market in The Netherlands.

Living in Europe for more than a decade, has given Paola who was born in Colombia and raised in The United States, the opportunity to broaden her culinary horizons. She is especially enthusiastic about the Mediterranean kitchen and future plans include continuing her business in France.