Well, hello there!
I’m Natalie and I’m the professional chef, recipe developer, photographer and writer of this blog. I love nothing more than to create seasonal, well-tested, flavor-forward everyday recipes to help you own dinnertime!
I’m so glad you’re here!
This is where my worlds collide – the place where my professional chef expertise meets my (sometimes chaotic) home kitchen reality. It’s where I like to celebrate food, from the fun (seasonal ingredients, flavors, textures) to the technical (how to carve a chicken), to the practical – getting food on the table, every day 😅
I created this space to be your culinary sanctuary and practical resource rolled into one. Come for the inspiration, stay for the “wait, you can actually do that?!” moments that make cooking at home both doable and joyful.
Because here’s the truth: life is too short for bland meals. So let’s embrace beautiful, local ingredients and transform them into delicious food, shared with the people who matter most 💛
What you’ll find on this blog
Well-Tested Recipes:
As a professional chef and recipe developer, it’s important to me create recipes that are not only well tested, but also things I cook in my own kitchen. My goal is to bring seasonal and interesting recipes to your busy family.
How-to Instruction:
As a chef and as a years-long culinary instructor, the teaching just might be my favorite part! So you can look forward to a focus on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ in step-by-step photos, video tutorials, cooking guides and even workshops – all to help boost your kitchen confidence.
A Weekly Newsletter:
I send out a regular weekly newsletter with my latest recipes, resources, and tips & tricks. I love chatting with my community as we learn about each other.
“Maybe the cat has fallen into the stew, or the lettuce has frozen, or the cake has collapsed.
Eh bien, tant pis. And if the food is truly vile, then the cook must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile and learn from her mistakes.”
-Julia Child
How my culinary journey began…
For me, it all began with a trip to a flea market with my dad in early May when I was just a young girl. I found a paperback copy of Julia Child’s The French Chef Cookbook. I’m not sure why I was drawn to it, but I was and bought it for 25¢ and gave it to my mom for Mother’s Day.
I will never, ever, ever forget the first time my mom made Sauce Bernaise from that cookbook. I had never tasted anything so delicious in all my life. That was the magic moment for me and when my love affair with all things food and Julia Child began.
From then on, I was hooked. My mom and I would watch The French Chef on PBS together. We adored Julia—her charisma, her curiosity, her extensive cooking knowledge, and her natural ability to teach and make the most delicious French food accessible to everyone.
From finance to food…
Years later, I found myself in graduate school in Washington D.C., embarking on a career in international finance. I loved my life. I worked long hours on interesting projects, traveled, entertained, and cooked more and more, to relax.
Then September 11th happened.
Like so many others, I reevaluated everything. Life suddenly felt short, fragile, and unpredictable. The quiet dream of pursuing food—something I had always pushed to the back of my mind—refused to stay quiet any longer.
Within a few months, I had applied to culinary school, quit my job, and dove in headfirst.
Culinary school: my happy place
Culinary school not only opened my eyes wider to the world of food, but also planted a seed in my heart for teaching. I spent long days immersed in classic French technique and eating the most delicious food. I, quite literally, could have stayed in culinary school for 10 years if they would have let me – it was the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done.
And then, in one of life’s full-circle moments, I was selected (along with a few other students) to assist local chefs in preparing a birthday dinner for Julia Child’s 90th birthday.
Yes, THE Julia Child.
Even at 90 years old, she was larger than life – gesturing, talking, and laughing. At the meal’s conclusion, she called all of the kitchen staff out into the dining room, thanked us, and proceeded to tell stories around the table. I will never forget that moment in my life – it was so unbelievably special.
Fast forward to today…
Nearly 20 years later, here I am—married, a mom of two amazing girls, dog lover (hi, Eeyore!), occasionally successful gardener, and living in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Go Blue!).
My journey has included restaurant work, a catering business, owning a recreational cooking school, professional recipe development, leading virtual cooking classes and team-building experiences, and now, food blogger.
Today, as the voice behind Natalie Marble Cooks, I spend my days doing what I love most: creating delicious and approachable food, teaching the technique behind it, and helping you feel more confident and inspired in the kitchen.
We should all be so lucky 💛
