Hi there! I’m Claire Rowen, a 50 year old chef born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Food has always been the heartbeat of my family, and the kitchen was where stories were told, advice was given (even when you didn’t ask for it), and love was served up in giant portions. My grandmother, an Italian immigrant with hands that seemed to speak their own language when kneading dough, was the one who first handed me a wooden spoon and said, “Just taste. Trust your tongue.” That was the beginning.
I didn’t follow the straight path into this world. I studied journalism first, thinking I’d be telling stories with words. Turns out, I tell them better with food. After a few years of chasing deadlines and sipping burnt coffee in newsrooms, I traded my notepad for a chef’s knife and enrolled in culinary school right here in Manhattan. Best decision I ever made.
Over the last two decades, I’ve worked in a mix of fine dining spots and bustling neighborhood joints across the city. I even did a two-year stint in New Orleans where I fell hard for Creole spices and the magic of a proper gumbo. Now, I split my time between running a teaching kitchen in Queens and consulting for small restaurants trying to bring their visions to life. I love helping people find their culinary voice whether it’s a college student learning to boil pasta or a seasoned chef fine tuning their plating.
I believe food is memory. It’s culture. It’s the best kind of diplomacy. Some of my greatest kitchen triumphs started as total disasters burnt roux, split sauces, over-proofed dough. But each mistake taught me something vital, and that’s what I pass on to anyone who steps into my kitchen. Be curious. Make a mess. Taste everything. And never underestimate the power of a perfectly roasted chicken.
I’m here for the joy of it the clatter of pans, the swirl of aromas, the moment someone takes a bite and just closes their eyes in happiness. Whether you’re here to learn, to be inspired, or just to swap stories over simmering pots, welcome. Let’s cook something unforgettable together.