About Valérie

Valérie Martin was born in Paris and raised between Brittany, Paris and the Basque Country in Southwestern France. She discovered her passion for French cooking early, exploring Parisian restaurants at a young age. She learnt to cook with her grand-mother, a Cordon Bleu cook. Valérie spent an exciting 15 years in Africa, where she discovered new dishes, learnt to expand her palate and work with fresh spices.

 Valérie moved to Iowa City in 2008. Here, she started catering for private events in 2010 and settled into her historic 1905 eastside home with a fully licensed kitchen in 2015. She caters weddings, birthdays, University of Iowa events, Rotary Club breakfasts, and many gourmet private dinners.

 She enjoys most introducing her clients to new dishes and flavors, and collaborating on menus for special meaningful events within reasonable budgets!