Hi there! I’m Riley Thompson, a 38-year-old chef living in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, though my journey began in a small coastal town in Oregon. Food has always been a central part of my life—not just what’s on the plate, but what it represents: connection, care, healing, and joy. I didn’t grow up in a traditional culinary family. My mom was a nurse who worked late hours, and my dad, a schoolteacher, did his best to whip up dinners from scratch, often with a cookbook propped up and flour on his sleeves.
It was in my early twenties that I truly fell in love with food as a form of wellness. After facing a string of health challenges—including celiac disease and later, an autoimmune diagnosis—I had to completely rethink how I ate. That shift changed my life. I began experimenting with gluten-free flours, plant-based proteins, and nutrient-dense superfoods not out of trendiness, but out of necessity. To my surprise, I didn’t just feel better—I discovered a whole new world of flavors, textures, and creative freedom in the kitchen.
I trained at a holistic culinary school in California, where I learned to marry nutrition with taste in a way that never feels like sacrifice. Since then, I’ve worked as a private chef, led community cooking classes, and developed recipes for health-conscious brands. But my greatest joy comes from sharing simple, satisfying meals that empower people to feel their best—especially fellow home cooks navigating their own wellness journeys.
My cooking style is colorful, comforting, and always rooted in whole ingredients. I love the challenge of transforming the familiar—like making creamy mac and cheese with cashew sauce, or baking fluffy muffins with almond flour and flax eggs. Of course, not everything turns out perfectly (I’ve had more than a few kitchen disasters with aquafaba meringue!), but that’s part of the adventure. Food should be fun, forgiving, and full of love.
Whether you’re new to gluten-free vegan cooking or simply looking for inspiration to nourish your body and soul, I’m here to make it approachable and delicious. Let’s cook, learn, and grow together—one wholesome bite at a time.