Tina Patterson is a commissioner with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) County Planning Board where she serves as an adviser to the commission’s Diversity Council and the Information Technology (IT) Council. In 2019, Ms. Patterson was appointed to the Montgomery County Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission.
Tina’s interest in food began when she was a child. She often helped her mother and grandmother with preparing meals. Her first recollection of cooking independently was using her EZ-Bake Oven to prepare treats for the family. Tina also worked with her mother in the garden – her mother grew vegetables while Tina focused on growing flowers. These interests have expanded over the years. Tina continues to grow flowers but has helped family and friends with planting and gathering food crops including collard greens, mustard greens, strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, and blueberries. Tina’s interest in food has led her to enroll in cooking classes of various cuisines, eventually leading her to complete a 20-week culinary techniques course at L’Academie de Cuisine led by Chef Brian Patterson (currently at Glenstone Museum, no relation) and volunteer as assistant in classes at both L’Academie de Cuisine locations. In 2014, at the urging of friends and family, Tina launched a food blog, Technicolor Dining, sharing her journey through all things dining and food related. Later, Tina expanded her knowledge and obtained Level 2 certification with distinction from the Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET). She is currently working to obtain her Level 3 certification. In a world where we are often reminded of how we are different from each other Tina often says, “food connects us.”