Artist, Chef, Writer Andrea Blum Hones Craft at Montalvo Arts Center

Editor's note: The following article was written by San Jose State University journalism student Janet Garcia as part of a class assignment. She welcomes your thoughts and feedback in the comments.

It's a cold breezy November and Andrea Blum is in her favorite place—the kitchen. She's preparing dinner for the rest of the fellows at Montalvo Arts Center's residency program.

There are ingredients all over the kitchen table to make pizza. She's enjoying a cozy fire place and black tea.

Blum appears to have made the internationally renowned residency at the nonprofit arts organization in Saratoga her home.

Blum grew up in Pennsylvania with lots of land, places to enjoy childhood and fond memories of cutting down corn stock and throwing it at friends.

At age 13, she and her family moved from the East Coast to Sacramento. From running around in the woods, tunnels and skating on lakes, the transition to California became a challenge, she said.

Traveling and exploring change perspectives and at age 20, Blum went to study in France. 

“I fell in love ... It totally changed me and shaped who I am today,” she said.

Blum witnessed for the first time a protest. She observed people of all ages, from grandmothers to children, going against the government in the streets.

After being denied a trip to France with her college classmates because she didn't speak the language, she traveled there anyway on her own, enrolling at the University of Paris, Sorbonne. 

After earning her degree in art history from UC Santa Barbara, Blum went to graduate school at Columbia University in New York where she received a journalism degree.

Blum considers herself a story teller. She practices the craft through her arts and photography work.

Her most memorable story to cover while a student at Columbia University was a year-long assignment focusing on asylum seekers coming into the United States.

Blum's other passion is food. Her love for cooking started when she was 11 years old. She went to a Philadelphia restaurant where she indulged in a duck dish made with strawberry sauce.

She began eating new foods and trying different flavors.

Blum started the website My American Pantry, described as an interactive atlas and a future marketplace of American artisan food and drink. It combines her love for the arts, food and photography.

Blum discovered the Montalvo Arts Center Lucas Artists Residency Program in India. She applied, got interviewed and was offered a spot as a fellow to be the chef.

She was asked to return for a second time for a month, but ended up staying a year, she said.

A journalist, artist and culinary lover, Blum has traveled all over the world creating, discovering and expanding her talents.

When her time at Montavo is over, she plans to move to Marin or Sonoma counties to continue her journey.