Hi, I’m Louise Rivera, a 37-year-old chef based in the vibrant, health-conscious city of Portland, Oregon. My journey into the culinary world didn’t start in a high-end kitchen or a fancy culinary school. It began in my grandmother’s sunlit kitchen in New Mexico, where the scent of simmering green chile and roasted garlic filled the air and love was measured in spoonfuls.

For years, I struggled with chronic inflammation that left me feeling drained and disconnected from my own body. Doctors offered pills, but I craved something more sustainable, more nourishing. That search led me down the rabbit hole of anti-inflammatory cooking, and I haven’t looked back since. Food became my medicine, my creative outlet, and eventually, my calling.

Now, I dedicate my days to crafting recipes that heal, energize, and excite. I’m not about deprivation or fad diets—my philosophy is rooted in balance, flavor, and joy. Whether it’s a turmeric-spiced lentil stew, wild salmon with a blueberry-basil glaze, or a simple bowl of golden milk, every dish I create is infused with intention and care.

I know how overwhelming it can feel to overhaul your eating habits. That’s why I focus on approachable, down-to-earth recipes using ingredients you can actually find at your local market. I love sharing kitchen hacks, substitution tips, and the occasional story of a recipe that didn’t quite go as planned—because let’s face it, not every culinary experiment is a masterpiece!

One of my most memorable kitchen moments was the first time I hosted a community dinner entirely focused on anti-inflammatory dishes. I’ll never forget the look on a guest’s face when they took their first bite of my rosemary-roasted beet and walnut salad with a tahini-lemon drizzle. “I didn’t know healthy food could taste like this,” they said. That moment crystallized my purpose—helping people discover that food meant for healing can also be full of soul and satisfaction.

I grow many of my own herbs and vegetables in a little raised-bed garden just outside my kitchen window. There’s something deeply grounding about pulling up fresh ginger or snipping a few sprigs of rosemary before a cooking session. Nature is my pantry, and every season brings fresh inspiration.

My mission is to empower you to feel at home in your kitchen and your body. Whether you’re managing an autoimmune condition, aiming to reduce joint pain, or just curious about the benefits of anti-inflammatory eating, I’m here to guide, inspire, and cheer you on.

Thanks for being here. Let’s cook something healing together.