dine well with chef kayla simone
about me.
To me, food is equal parts fuel, art, and a conduit for joy and community connection. My pop-ups feature traditional global flavors and elevated Americana, and always in my signature style of "heartfelt haute cuisine". My work is always in deep connection with the seasons and the local ecosystem in which I'm cooking, and I pay homage to old-world and time-honored culinary traditions and techniques from around the world.
Growing up in Oakland, California, I was so lucky to be steeped in such a rich culinary culture: an incredibly diverse international food scene, locavore sensibilities, and iconic women-led slow food institutions like Chez Panisse and The French Laundry. My farm-to-table craft is heavily influenced by my California upbringing, and it's been wonderful to bring such rich traditions and food-based storytelling to New York City. In 2024 I created the dine well supper club, seasonal dining experience celebrating queer food, queer chefs and concepts not conventionally featured in a fine dining context. I am also active in the anti-diet culture space, am passionate about food justice and uplifting marginalized voices in culinary, and write about food at the intersection of politics and culture in my substack/newsletter dine well.
kayla simone fowler
the dine well newsletter + substack.
exclusive recipes, deep dives, and culinary commentary at the intersection of food, culture and politics