About Kayla Neff
My name’s Kayla Neff, I’m 34, and I live on the breezy outskirts of Charleston, South Carolina, where the air smells like salt and sunshine and the sound of sizzling pans never really stops. My love for cooking started somewhere between the clatter of my mom’s cast-iron skillet and my dad’s stories about how every good meal deserved a second helping. I wasn’t trying to learn recipes back then—I was learning how food makes people feel seen, safe, and loved.
I don’t cook to show off. I cook to slow down, to listen, and to remember who I am. My kitchen doesn’t have a “theme”—it’s got whatever feels right that day. Some nights it’s shrimp and grits with a little extra heat, other days it’s lemony Greek chicken or a cozy bowl of ramen I throw together from scratch. I believe good food should be bold, honest, and maybe just a little messy—because that’s life too.
For years, I thought being a “real” cook meant following all the rules—measuring every spice, timing every step. But somewhere along the way, I realized that real flavor lives in the imperfections: a slightly burnt crust, a pinch too much garlic, a laugh mid-stir that makes you spill the salt. Those are the moments that make cooking unforgettable.
People ask me all the time if I have a signature dish. Truth is, I don’t. I have moments. Like the night my best friend cried over my tomato-basil soup because it tasted like her grandmother’s. Or the time my niece told me my pancakes were “better than school,” and honestly? That’s the best Michelin star I’ll ever need.
These days, I spend most of my time helping people—especially busy women who’ve forgotten what joy in the kitchen feels like—find their way back to simple, soulful cooking. Because food isn’t just nourishment; it’s an anchor. Whether you’re learning to trust yourself again or just trying to make dinner after a long day, your kitchen is where you can start fresh.