Our Story
Our origin story, why we do what we do, and what’s in a name.
Here’s how it started
Here’s me circa 2015, teaching one of my early cooking classes exploring the food from A Series of Unfortunate Events children’s book series.
Back in 2014, I had an insight.
I was teaching after-school cooking classes at my kids’ elementary school in Montclair, NJ. And as I watched my own children and the kids in my classes interact with the recipes and stories I was sharing with them, I realized something.
Everyone eats. It’s an activity that binds us all together.
And -
We each eat what we eat for a reason. The foods and traditions that are meaningful to each of us tell an important story about our own personal history, our culture, our resources and our values.
So - when we understand and appreciate the food that’s meaningful to someone else, we can literally take a taste of their lived experience into our own bodies. It’s more than stepping into someone else’s shoes. And it’s one of the most tangible and approachable ways we can connect with each other.
Ever since, Adventure Kitchen has been dedicated to creating experiences with food and cooking that bring people closer together.
Our booth at an outdoor community event in Montclair, NJ in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
All these years later, we’re focused on building a destination where curious home cooks everywhere can explore ingredients and resources, and create community.
In addition to a curated selection of spices around the world, we offer 7 small-batch spice blends created by me and made at our commercial kitchen in Montclair, NJ.
We now offer 48 spices and seasoning blends, including organic, fair trade, single-origin and heirloom varieties from every inhabited continent. Over 3,500 people follow along in my newsletter each week, and we offer digital courses and workshops, a membership, and in-person meetups and experiences where we meet many more.
Our core purpose is bold: Bringing the world together through food and cooking. We approach this important work with joy, generosity and gratitude, and it fuels everything we do.
Why Adventure Kitchen? The story behind the name
An adventure is a joyful exploration.
Adventures are not about guilt, obligation or shame. They’re not about perfection or following rules. And they’re not limited by fear.
Neither is our cooking.
Here’s me on a summer day at the Montclair Farmers Market in 2025.
An adventurous kitchen is fueled by curiosity and discovery. Open to the world, and ready to engage with friendship and hospitality. It is sleeves rolled up, diving in with all five senses, willing to take risks to learn, explore and share.
This is the kind of cooking that lights me up. And if this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
An adventure is bold openness to unlimited potential. Open doors and open hearts. With plenty of room for fellow travelers.
Come with me. Let’s go change the world.