Name: Lisa Graf
Twitter: I have never tweeted in my life 🙂
Facebook: @lisam87graf and @ghostranchaz
Instagram: @savagetartchef and @ghostranch_az
Website: ghostranchaz.com
Age: 33
Title: Sugar Fairy/Pastry Chef
Married/Single: Married to a very handsome man.
Kids: One daughter.
City you live in: Chandler.
A typical day in my life includes… remote schooling my child while whipping up desserts at the restaurant and playing with our new puppy.
I was born… in Alamosa, Colorado
My favorite thing about Arizona… I love the desert landscape, and I love Box Canyon outside of Payson…I like trying to find cool spots to hike, camp and swim.
I’m listening to…some kind of cumbia that is blaring in the kitchen right now…the dishwasher ladies make it like a night club in here.
My family… is my life, I don’t know what I would do without them.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… probably my friend Jack that passed away several years ago, I miss that guy.
One thing I cannot live without… water and hot sauce.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…an interior designer and a journalist.
I’m inspired by… travel, compassionate people.
The one person who motivates me is… my daughter and husband.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be… the hatred and greed in the world.
The perfect day would be… hanging out in Granada, Spain. It’s my favorite city in the world.
My first job was… scooping ice cream at Baskin Robbins when I was 15.
My favorite escape… I really enjoy hot springs, we definitely don’t have enough in Arizona.
My life… a wild roller coaster. Just kidding.
I’m currently working on… a new menu item for Ghost Ranch…should be pretty cool.
Always… trust your gut.
Never… take drugs.
Favorite Quote… “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you.” ― Anthony Bourdain
Biggest Dream… to travel the world all the time.
My Pet Peeve(s)… sticky honey bottles or when people don’t say hello.
More About Lisa Graf:
A native of southern Colorado, Graf embarked on her first culinary adventures as a teenager, backpacking and eating her way across Europe. These travels inspired her to pursue a career as a pastry chef, and after relocating to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 2000s, she honed her skills as part of an esteemed local culinary arts program, earning her pâtissier certificate in 2006.
She launched her career running the pastry programs at two James Beard Foundation-recognized restaurants, La Boca and the Compound. In the ensuing years, she worked in the kitchens of Mama’s Fish House in Maui and Scottsdale’s Roka Akor and Hotel Valley Ho. She takes inspiration from travels, mentors, and family. She loves working with local and seasonal ingredients to create one-of-a-kind desserts with Southwestern flair.
