About
Welcome! I’m Chef Jen, a.k.a. Bacon and Spice
Food is more than just a quick meal—it’s an adventure, a passport, and our greatest medicine. I’m a classically trained chef and an Award-Winning Recipe Writer with deep roots right here in the Raleigh-Apex area of North Carolina. As a triple citizen of Canada, the United States, and Australia, my culinary journey spans decades of cooking in the high-alpine Canadian Rockies, managing busy kitchens in tropical Australia, and completing my professional French culinary certification in Sydney.
Through my digital kitchen at Bacon and Spice, I merge high-end French culinary technique with rustic, down-to-earth, family-friendly meals.
Why We Cook This Way: Flavor Always Wins
Life took a sharp turn following major personal health hurdles that required an absolute overhaul of how I nourished my body. Learning to cook through recovery—while simultaneously adapting our home kitchen so my son can thrive on a strict, clean-label gluten-free diet—sharpened my skills and completely redefined my mission as a chef.
If you are looking for easy dinner ideas, foolproof baking, or show-stopping seasonal dishes, my promise to you is simple: flavor always wins.
At Bacon and Spice, you will find:
- Classic Bistro Techniques: Professional chef secrets translated into simple, actionable steps anyone can execute at home.
- Bold Seasonal Recipes: Creative, texture-rich dishes built around whole-food, clean pantry staples.
- Gluten-Free Swaps: Easy, tested modifications so every comfort food dish can be served regular or 100% gluten-free for your family.
Home of Your Favorite Viral Halloween Recipes
You might recognize my kitchen from social media, where my highly visual, cinematic recipes have captured millions of views and generated over 15 years of cumulative watch time worldwide. From the iconic, original Zombie Eyeball Deviled Eggs to the gothic Black Skull Mushroom Risotto, I specialize in engineering recipes that look like pure drama on a plate but taste like restaurant-quality comfort food.
Most holiday and seasonal food looks amazing on a screen but tastes like cardboard in real life. Not here. Every single viral recipe is rigorously tested to ensure it balance acids, macro textures, and deep umami flavors perfectly.
Join the Bacon and Spice Kitchen
We are currently building out this digital recipe index and adding fresh, chef-tested kitchen creations every single week.
Pull up a seat, grab your favorite cast-iron skillet, and let’s cook something unforgettable together!
~Chef Jen ❤️