Stacy and her friend Eric Tyre spent months planning the recipe for the chili. Up until the night before there was a disagreement on the final ingredient to use in their secret recipe chili. Stacy being a bit upset designated Eric as the Chief onion cutter and left him with a 30 pound bag of onions to peel and chop. She came back a bit later and found Eric happily chopping his onions with a full scuba mask on. From there on out it was all laughter for the two would-be champion chili cookers.
Stacy cannot remember a time when she was not cooking.
Stacy grew up in her family's restaurant in Tracy, literally. When her mother would work Stacy would be in the kitchen or in the back room entertaining herself with pots and pans and eventually by age 8 helping out a bit. Soon thereafter she would help her mom with little catering events, get-togethers, and tupperware type parties. By the time she was 12 she was putting on all the family holiday meals. Her mother had since remarried and Stacy's family was large, very large. With her new family being hispanic Stacy learned at her step fathers side the finer aspects of real mexican cooking. "I am best know for my mexican food." Said Stacy, beaming with pride. "I love to cook" she said, but adds, "I push my food on people." Eric nodded in agreement and patted his stomach with a look of satisfaction.
Once on her own she began a catering business, catering weddings, events, etc. Now a mom to two "wonderful" children Stacy supplemented her catering business working as a funeral director, catering all those events also. In 2010 Stacy was offered a job as a cook at Black Oak. She moved to Twain Harte and began her new career. That was to be short lived. That winter the storms were so bad the home they were in was destroyed leaving Stacy, her two children and her disabled mother homeless and with precious few belongings.
"A wonderful person" offered them a home to live in in Copperopolis in 2011 and Stacy has never looked back. "I am truly blessed. I give all my glory to the Lord, my community and my mother, she has had a huge impact."
Stacy hopes to open a catering business once again in the Copperopolis area but is in need of either a certified kitchen to use or an investor. In the meantime you will see Stacy's smiling face at the Copperopolis Olive Oil Company and V'Dora's where she works part-time.
Wanting to thank those that helped with the cook-off Stacy named Linda Stephanick, the Impink Family and Copperopolis Olive Oil COmpany. She sincerely hopes she didn't leave anyone out as she "loves this community and all who have helped."
Stacy is currently attending University of Phoenix in hopes of acheiving a BA in business and social services.
by,
Charity Maness
