Ingrid Funes Shelton & Robert Shelton
Ingrid Funes Shelton, executive chef, Cusp Dining & Drinks, La Jolla; Robert Shelton, senior chief, Navy
Homebase: Chula Vista
How did your love story begin? Ingrid: By today’s standards, I guess you could say we have a more “old-fashioned” love story. We met during a night out in San Diego, when I was in town visiting from Los Angeles. It was a genuine “love at first sight” moment, and I was flooded with an immediate feeling that he was meant to be with me. He grabbed my hand and the minute I felt his touch, I just knew he was special. He would later tell me that he felt the same way and that my innate motherly instinct was palpable. We were engaged just four months later! Fast forward 10 years, and our now-blended family includes Robert’s 19-year-old son, Najee; my 21-year-old son, Cristoffer; and our son together, Miles, who recently turned two.
Favorite thing about one another: Ingrid: I love the person he is. Robert is very intelligent, he knows how to talk to people and he is natural leader. He is dedicated to his work but most importantly to his family and is an amazing father to our sons. He sets a wonderful example for my boys to witness how to be a good man, a good father and a good husband.
Robert: I love her strength. She is one of the strongest people I know. She is also an amazing, hardworking and devoted mother to our sons.
Favorite date night: Ingrid: There are so many things to do in San Diego, but my favorite date nights are centered around simplicity and enjoying the love of family. We adore trying new neighborhood restaurants or sampling new and inventive cocktail recipes at home that I make for the two of us.
Robert: My favorite date nights consist of going out of town and eating at more than one restaurant. We simply make a list of all the places we want to try and when we are done at one location, we move right on to the next.
Favorite tradition you have as a couple: Ingrid: Our tradition is Sunday brunch and, even though I spend my work week in the kitchen, I love to wake up on Sundays and make brunch for our family. After eating, we spend the day together watching a new show that we both enjoy.
Robert: Sunday brunch with the family is my favorite tradition. It doesn’t hurt that it’s prepared with love by a professional chef.
What does your happily ever after look like? Ingrid: Our happily ever after is to guide our children to a great and prosperous future, and for us to travel and experience the diversity of cuisines and cultures from around the world.
Robert: We hope someday to own our own businesses and travel the world together experiencing different cultures and foods from all the places on our ever-growing bucket list which includes Japan, Italy, Chile, Argentina, Greece and London.