About Renée
Welcome to Nourish The Roots. Here, you will find a collection of recipes, herbal medicine wisdom, seasonal and natural living information, and everyday musings on all things nourishing. I have a passion for beautiful whole foods and preparing them in ways that showcase their unique tastes, colors, and health benefits. I also believe strongly in the healing power of immersing oneself in nature and living in tune with the rhythm of the seasons. Also, everything I create and share has an eye for beauty. Because beauty heals, as well.
I grew up in an Italian family in New York, where I was exposed to traditional Southern Italian cuisine from birth. I grew up watching and helping my parents cook and quickly fell in love with all things food and I have been cooking professionally and writing recipes ever since. I started a food blog in 2010 as a way to get through four years of nursing school. It was a creative outlet for me during a time when I was deeply struggling with the contradictions of the medical system. I persevered and became a licensed registered at the end of those four years, but I realized that the conventional approach to healthcare had no emphasis on holistic health or prevention of disease through nutrition and lifestyle. I decided not to practice in a conventional setting and instead chose to pursue my true passion that aligned with my values. I carved my own path as a professional cook, recipe developer and food photographer, herbalist, holistic homemaker, gardener, forager, and mother. I have cooked professionally for over 20 years, in restaurants, health-food stores and co-ops to teaching cooking classes and workshops, to private chef work and catering for intimate events and retreats. My biggest passion is supporting local farmers and eating with the seasons. I love showing people that it is possible to eat and live in such a way that deeply nourishes the body and benefits our local communities and the planet.
In the winter of 2024, I attended a two-month farm-to-table culinary program at the legendary Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School in Italy where I deepened my knowledge about traditional Italian cuisine, agriculture, and food systems. I currently live on a rural island in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, daughter, and a small flock of chickens.
To see more from me, follow me @nourishtheroots on Instagram.
You can also read more about me and the work I do in this newspaper article from September 2024
M Y
O F F E R I N G S
NOURISH the ROOTS
Holistic Chef Services
I have availability for private chef work and private cooking classes, or allow me to cook for your next intimate event or retreat.
I am also now offering nourishing postpartum meal support for new mothers.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
There are many classes (both in person and online) that I have planned on the horizon. Think food, herbs, healthy home, and garden goodness.