Cazza - Gourmet Lifestyle Food - Healthy Turkey Meatballs

MEET THE TEAM

COURTLAN BUDMAN
Founding Foodie
I’ve always been one who needed more hours in the day to accomplish all the things I try to pack into my schedule. Whether it was the long hours put in earning my B.S. degree in Nursing at USC while trying to maintain some type of social life, or working at the hospital while at the same time attending UCLA to earn my M.S. in Nursing, I filled every hour of the day. After earning my Masters degree, I went to work for a top plastic surgeon, once again working long days performing intensive work.

After working with little life outside of my job for many years, I went on a vacation to Italy with my husband. While in Italy, we saw a lifestyle of eating quality foods over long, leisurely meals. The dishes were simple, but made of the highest quality ingredients. We also saw the way in which the Italians really enjoyed their company during meal time. Whether it is family, friends, or new acquaintances, a meal in Italy is a bonding experience over great food.

When we returned home to Los Angeles, I was inspired to recreate the quality meals and loving environment we experienced eating in Italy for my husband, family, and friends. I loved to cook and wanted long, social meals full of delicious, healthy food to be the environment we would live in. However, working 10 to 12 hours a day as a nurse practitioner didn’t allow me the time to both cook for hours and enjoy a long, relaxed meal. This dilemma inspired me to create Cazza products for all the busy people in my shoes.

EVELINA MARCHETTI
Consulting Culinarian
Evey is our Consulting Culinarian, bringing her fantastic palate and cooking skills to Cazza. We spend many hours in the kitchen together perfecting our tasty recipes.

Growing up in a family steeped in culinary tradition, Evey was exposed to a wide range of cooking techniques from the time she was born in Europe. From her Italian mother and grandfather she learned to prepare many of the family's recipes as well as other Italian specialties. She learned early in life that the kitchen is the heart and soul of every Italian household.

After attending college at UNLV, Evey moved to California to start her career in the hospitality industry. She worked as a catering director for five years in Hollywood where she enjoyed event planning, firmly believing that food is at the center of any special occasion. Evey is married, raising her first child.

KATIE VALDES
Healthy Living Expert
Katie is Cazza’s Healthy Living Expert, advising us on our healthy, delicious recipes as well as dishing out nutrition and fitness advice.

Katie is a Registered Dietitian specializing in weight management, sports nutrition and child nutrition. In addition to her work at Cazza, Katie maintains her own practice in Southern California consulting with individuals of all ages. She has taught university nutrition classes, conducted nutrition seminars and lectures, and continues to author a nutrition newsletter.

She is an avid runner, having regularly run long distance competitively in high school, at USC, and she continues to do it today while pushing her two children, ages 2 and 5, in a stroller. Katie has placed 13th overall female in the Los Angeles Marathon and regularly ranks at the top of her class in races today.

Katie holds a Masters Degree in Nutrition in addition to her Bachelor Degree in Exercise Science from USC.