Paseo Club Chef Kristen Taraldsen: Coming back from the brink

At the age of sixteen, Kristen Taraldsen was not experiencing life as most teens do — playing sports, hanging out with friends, and catching up on the latest movies. Instead, she was forced to face a painful reality that no child should ever have to reckon with.  

Not one, but both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer. In 2012, her mother discovered she had colon cancer, and soon after, her father found out he had lung cancer. 

Kristen is one of four children, with two older brothers and one younger brother, age six. Her parents were high school sweethearts. With two parents undergoing cancer treatment, the entire family was facing serious adversity.

Finding inspiration amid hardship

One small silver lining during this time was Kristen discovered cooking in her high school culinary class. Her instructor trained at Cordon Bleu and also taught at the collegiate level, so she was no amateur. Ms. Moran befriended Kristen, not only teaching her the fundamentals of cooking but also bringing meals to her family. 

Kristen found that cooking was not just about getting food on the table. Cooking was an opportunity to create food that heals. Making healthy foods for her parents became a focus and an inspiration. 

One pivotal experience for Kristen was when her father requested a meal of eggs and toast. Kristen’s mother was feeling poorly, so Kristen stepped up to make it herself. She was nervous about the quality of the meal but wondered, “How hard could it be?” 

Her father had been progressively losing his sense of taste and smell, but when she brought him the meal (with a side of hashbrowns thrown in for good measure), he wept. He could smell and taste the food! This was the only time Kristen saw her father cry. This experience strengthened her resolve to pursue cooking. Unfortunately, her father passed away soon after, living only six months from the time he received his diagnosis. 

Her mother began a slow recovery. Part of her focus for her healing process was learning and implementing healthier eating. Kirsten and her mother began to add juicing and whole foods to their diet, furthering Kirsten’s interest in cooking.

Becoming a chef

Kristen’s passion for (and skill in) cooking was recognized by Cordon Bleu, and she was accepted to their culinary school. Upon graduating, she proceeded to cook at many fine dining establishments in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Pasadena, and Los Angeles. She even participated in preparing meals for several award events, including the Emmys. 

The strikes in the entertainment industry in 2023 had a far-reaching impact — including the restaurant business. During this time, Kristen decided to move to the Santa Clarita Valley. She continued her culinary endeavors by assisting in the development and expansion of the Rivers End Pub in Sand Canyon. 

She and her boyfriend lived in a fifth wheel at a park when they met a customer. The three of them became fast friends, and eventually, in April of 2024, the friend invited Kristen and her boyfriend to move their RV to his five-acre property. They began to construct an additional master bedroom and bath to accommodate Kristen and her boyfriend.

Their friendship was cemented when their dogs fell in love, culminating in the birthing of eight adorable puppies. 

The unforeseen and unfortunate

On Saturday, February 8, Kristen came home after a long shift cooking for a pickleball event at the Paseo Club. She fell asleep at approximately 11:30 pm. Five hours later, she awoke to the smell of smoke. 

She called her boyfriend, who was working on a project at the shop in a separate building on the property. She asked him to check the house and see where the smoke was coming from. Their friend was out of the country at the time. 

She soon heard the beeping of the horn from her boyfriend’s truck. The sound signaled to her to get dressed and come outside. That is when she saw the flames rising out of the house. She called 911, and the firefighters came in 15 minutes. 

It was too late. Between the time when Kristen smelled the smoke at 4:30 am and 4:45, the house was destroyed. All the firefighters could do was ensure the fire did not spread to additional structures and neighboring properties.

Saving her fur babies

If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting with Kristen, you will likely learn about her love for her dogs. They are her babies, and she is very connected to them. 

During the fire, Kristen’s primary concern was to gather up the adult parent dogs and the four remaining puppies (four were adopted) and bring them to safety. The puppies were housed at night in a horse trailer so they would be protected from marauding coyotes.  

Kristen single-handedly got each puppy out of the trailer and the mother dog away from the fire. The male adult dog she could find via his tracking collar. He was in the laundry room. By the time the firefighters got to him, he had died of asphyxiation — a huge loss to Kristen, her boyfriend, and their friend. 

Slowly rebuilding

In the aftermath of the fire, Kristen and her boyfriend have been slowly adjusting to their new life. They face large obstacles, like living without running water and electricity, and small challenges, such as discovering Kristen has no pants because they were in the laundry room during the fire.

The interior of the fifth wheel came out mostly unscathed. However, the slideouts burned, and the roof is now weak due to fire damage. 

Due to the cost of replacing lost personal items, repairing the RV, and the constant need for dog food, Kristen has agreed to accept donations via a GoFundMe account. They are also hoping to begin to build a bathhouse from a shipping container soon to provide access to bathing facilities.

Kristen is ready to home two puppies. They are rottweiler/heeler mixes named Brownie and Zuko. 

• Brownie is a 25-pound male with a calm and timid temperament. He loves to be close to his mother or a human mom and is a “Velcro dog.” He doesn't play rough. He likes squeaky toys and water bottles. He would be great with children and other dogs. 
  
  
  
• Zuko is a 33-pound short-haired male. He has more energy and is one of the bigger brothers. He is determined to be a protector like his dad. He is a Velcro dog, as well. Both dogs love watching TV and lying in bed once ready to wind down. Both dogs would be great family pets or amazing guard dogs with the proper training. If you are interested in adopting one or both dogs, please contact Kristen to learn more.

The Paseo Club and the Santa Clarita Valley are communities that value family, friends, and a healthy lifestyle. This is a special opportunity for all of us to make a small (or large) gesture of support to Kristen. Please donate today to help Kristen get back on her feet and rebuild a new chapter.

The Paseo Club is your private fitness and social club in the Santa Clarita Valley. We offer over 60 fitness classes each week, tennis, pickleball, Pilates, swimming, and more. There are several social events every month so you can visit and mingle with fellow members. The Paseo Club is your home away from home.