Erika Pitera: Recipe Contributor & Food Stylist
Erika Pitera is a recipe contributor, editor, and food stylist at MyGourmetConnection, where she collaborates with her mother, Lynne Webb, to develop and refine recipes for home cooks who value bold flavor and thoughtful technique. As a longtime home cook with over two decades of kitchen experience, Erika plays an integral role in recipe development and testing, helping ensure each dish is both practical to prepare and visually appealing.
In addition to her work in recipe development, Erika contributes to the editorial side of the site, drawing on her journalism background to help shape and refine the written content that accompanies each recipe. She also styles much of the food photography featured on MyGourmetConnection, working closely with her husband, photographer Tom Pitera, to present dishes in a way that reflects how they look when prepared in a real home kitchen.
“A dish doesn’t need tricks to look good. When ingredients are handled thoughtfully and cooked well, the color, texture, and composition take care of themselves.“
Erika’s creative perspective brings balance to the site’s recipe development process. While Lynne’s approach is rooted in classic technique and decades of cooking experience, Erika contributes a modern sensibility that keeps recipes practical for today’s home cooks.
Beyond the Kitchen
Outside the kitchen, Erika is a mixed media artist known for her one-inch scale miniature creations. Her work ranges from intricately sculpted food pieces to detailed themed dioramas, attracting collectors from around the world. She shares this work through her studio, The Petite Provisions Co.
Erika holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida and also studied music performance. A classically trained pianist and violinist, she spent many years performing with youth and collegiate symphony orchestras.
She lives in Central Florida with her husband Tom and their senior dog and cat.
