A Greenwich native and the youngest of 9 children, Patty explored her cooking interests when she started taking cooking classes in Manhattan at Cordon Bleu and with Italian super chef Marcella Hazan. Determined to broaden her culinary talents, Patty enrolled in the New York Restaurant School and later worked for Weight Watchers Magazine and Gracie Mansion Restaurant in Greenwich, Connecticut. She also worked as a junior chef at the venerable Homestead Restaurant in Greenwich in the beginning years of her career.

Cooking has always been a passion of Patty's, but not necessarily a lifetime ambition. This changed in 1989 when she was forced into survival mode by a divorce that left her in financial chaos. At 40 years old with three small children, no college degree, and loads of debt, Patty used her anger and pushed through by doing what she loved to do - cook. She formed "Maids Night Out" in 1989, delivering meals right to people's doorsteps and working day and night from her house (with a tiny kitchen, one stove, and four burners) trying to keep up with the incredible demand.

One year later and without any advertising, Patty's business had grown strictly from word-of-mouth to a point where she could move to an official kitchen separate from her residence. She took out a loan, purchased more kitchen equipment and changed the name of her operation to Patricia Blake Catering.

A survivor in every sense of the word, Patricia Blake has built a solid and prosperous business that she knows and enjoys. Her three children are all college-educated and living productive lives and Patty is happily re-married to accountant Jack McNamee.

Patricia Blake McNamee is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, the International Caterer's Association, and the Darien Chamber of Commerce.