Liza’s favorite kitchen tool while growing up was an old stone mortar and pestle she used to smash garlic for many a family feast. Throughout her life, the ritual of making food and the experience of sharing it with friends and family brought her closer to others and her culture. She was fortunate enough to be welcomed into like families, kitchens, and cultures during her travels, especially Guam and the Philippines. Other than dancing, hot chocolate, and garlic (of course) there is nothing that Liza likes more than using the catalog of flavors she's built to whip up dishes both new and nostalgic. So when she stepped into the Hipcooks kitchen and met Monika, she became an instant groupie and never wanted to leave. Now she is having crazy fun teaching classes such as Cocktails, Turning Japanese and Thai One On.