Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer ‘Suki’ Otsuki.
Hi Jennifer ‘Suki’ , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My path has been anything but linear, but food has been the common thread throughout it all.
I spent years working in restaurants, eventually serving in leadership roles as an Executive Chef for concepts including House of Blues, Meddlesome Moth, and Mudhen Meat & Greens. While I loved the creativity and energy of the restaurant world, I became increasingly interested in the connection between food, health, and the way we care for one another.
That curiosity led me beyond traditional restaurant kitchens and into retreat spaces, private dining experiences, wellness events, and eventually authorship. Along the way, I worked alongside nutrition professionals, developed a health-conscious culinary style, and began creating meals designed not only to taste good, but to help people feel good.
At the same time, I was navigating my own personal journey of healing, loss, faith, and rediscovering who I was outside of achievement and productivity. Many of those experiences ultimately became the foundation for my cookbook, Soul Nourished. What began as a collection of recipes evolved into a memoir-style cookbook exploring nourishment in all its forms: physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational.
Today, I serve as a chef, retreat culinary partner, author, and wellness facilitator. Through food, storytelling, and community gatherings, my work is centered around helping people slow down, connect, and remember that nourishment is about so much more than what’s on the plate.
Looking back, every chapter–from restaurant kitchens to retreats to writing a cookbook–has been preparing me for the work I’m doing now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. In many ways, the challenges have shaped the work more than the successes.
Like many people in hospitality, I spent years pouring into others while neglecting myself. There were seasons of burnout, financial uncertainty, grief, and significant life transitions that forced me to reevaluate who I was and what truly mattered. Some of the hardest moments came when things I had built, relationships I valued, or plans I thought were certain did not unfold the way I expected.
There were also challenges in stepping away from traditional career paths. Moving from restaurant leadership into retreats, private dining, writing, and wellness work did not come with a clear roadmap. It required a great deal of faith, persistence, and a willingness to start over more than once.
At the same time, those experiences became some of my greatest teachers. They deepened my understanding of nourishment, not just as something physical, but as something that touches every area of our lives. They taught me the importance of slowing down, asking for help, building community, and creating space for both healing and growth.
Looking back, I would not have chosen many of those struggles, but they ultimately shaped the heart behind everything I do today. They gave me a deeper appreciation for gathering people around a table, creating spaces where people feel seen and cared for, and reminding others that nourishment is about so much more than food.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a chef, author, retreat culinary partner, and wellness facilitator whose work centers around nourishment, connection, and hospitality.
Through Soul Nourished Kitchen, I provide private dining experiences, retreat catering, wellness events, and culinary experiences designed to help people slow down, gather, and reconnect with themselves and one another. While my background includes leadership roles in restaurants and hospitality, much of my work today takes place in retreat spaces where food becomes part of a larger experience of healing, reflection, celebration, and community.
I specialize in creating health-conscious, flavor-driven meals that accommodate dietary restrictions, food allergies, and wellness goals without feeling restrictive. My approach was shaped through years of working alongside nutrition professionals and developing menus that support health and vitality while still feeling comforting, abundant, and deeply satisfying.
What I am most proud of is my cookbook, Soul Nourished. What began as a collection of recipes became a deeply personal project exploring grief, resilience, faith, healing, and the role food can play in bringing us back to ourselves. Seeing that book come to life after years of dreaming, writing, and refining remains one of the greatest accomplishments of my career.
What sets me apart is that I do not view food as simply fuel or entertainment. I believe meals are moments. Whether I am serving a retreat, preparing a private dinner, facilitating a community gathering, or writing a recipe, my goal is the same: to create experiences where people feel nourished, cared for, and connected. The food matters, but so does the atmosphere, the conversation, the sense of belonging, and the memories created around the table.
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that nourishment extends far beyond what is on our plate.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that nourishment extends far beyond food.
For a long time, I believed success was something to be earned through achievement, hard work, and constantly taking care of everyone else. The deeper lesson has been learning that we cannot sustainably pour from an empty cup. We all need places, people, rhythms, and practices that nourish us too.
Some of life’s greatest challenges taught me that healing is rarely about pushing harder. More often, it comes through slowing down, paying attention, receiving support, and allowing ourselves to be cared for. Ironically, those lessons have made me a better chef, leader, and host because I understand more deeply what people are truly hungry for.
Food has always been my language, but over the years I’ve come to realize that what many people are seeking is not just a meal. They are seeking connection, belonging, presence, and the feeling that they matter.
That understanding has shaped every aspect of my work and continues to guide how I show up in the world today.
Pricing:
- Private Dining Experiences: Custom quoted based on guest count, menu, and service style.
- Wellness Events & Community Gatherings: Custom quoted based on scope, attendance, and event needs.
- Retreat Culinary Experiences: Typically range from $240-$550+ per guest depending on retreat length, guest count, menu complexity, and level of service.
- Speaking, Workshops & Culinary Demonstrations: Available upon request.
- Soul Nourished Cookbook: Hardcover editions available through direct order, and bulk pricing is available.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soulnourishedkitchen.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulnourishedkitchen
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/soulnourishedkitchen
