LOVE LOCAL
Building a life here has brought Daniela Izquierdo (aka Danni Cooks) and her family incredible opportunities and wholesome moments
I’ve lived in Cambridge for more than three years now. My husband, son and I moved here in the summer of 2022 and it felt like a real fresh start. Being here has helped us slow down, settle into a new rhythm and embrace all the changes that come with starting over in a new city. I love it here because it’s a wonderful place for my family. My son is growing up in a safe, supportive environment with so many opportunities around him. I’ve met amazing people, and both my partner and I have grown so much since moving here. Cambridge truly feels like home now. The place that means the most to me is the neighbourhood where I live, especially the beautiful Veteran Oak Tree in Eddington. Do you know it’s around 430 years old? There is so much history behind it. And now, there’s a huge colony of rabbits
nearby, with beautiful baby rabbits jumping around the tree roots! The best events I’ve seen here are the summer festivals in Cambridge, especially the Foodies Festival at Parker’s Piece. Last summer, I had the incredible opportunity to open the main Chefs’ Theatre, where I demonstrated an ancestral dish from the Ecuadorian coast to festival-goers. Sharing my culinary heritage with the Cambridge community was unforgettable and a true highlight of my career as a private chef. When people ask me for local recommendations, I always point them to Jack’s Gelato, even in winter. It’s the best ice cream I’ve ever had! For eating out, there are many options, but I love Sticks’n’Sushi, Kibou and Ittou Noodle Bar. I also recommend visiting the colleges to admire the architecture and, of course,
SHARE YOUR LOVE STORY If you’ve been a Cambridge
resident for a year or more and would like to appear on this page as one of our next interviewees, drop the editor a line at louisehoffman@bright.uk.com
going punting along the River Cam – it’s a classic Cambridge experience!
One thing I’ve never done here, but plan to, is go swimming in the River Cam. I didn’t know this was possible until a few weeks ago, when someone told me they used to swim there every weekend with their kids. Even after living in Cambridge for more than 40 years they decided to go for a walk and swim to celebrate their anniversary, creating a wonderful memory with their now-adult children. I would love to build similar meaningful memories and traditions with my own family.
Sharing my culinary heritage with the Cambridge community was a true highlight of my career
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