WE CREATE MEALS THAT NOURISH YOUR JOURNEY
Whether you’re hosting a yoga retreat, private event, or want a personal chef service in your home, our seasonal, nourishing meals support the individual wellness journey.
We craft each dish intentionally and creatively, using local ingredients to bring thoughtful, farm-to-table experiences to the Bay Area and beyond.
To provide an effortless service for retreat hosts, wellness venues, and individuals where they can “uproot” themselves from their typical environment and grow through elevated meals creatively made with nature’s finest ingredients.
Ashley is the Executive Chef & Founder of Uproot Culinary.
Her love for vibrant, wholesome food started at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York. This passion deepened as she began working at farms in upstate New York and Oahu.
During her time on the farms, Ashley collaborated with chefs, dietitians, and farmers using food as medicine to aid children on the autism spectrum.
Ashley’s passion for wellness extends beyond food. She completed her 200 Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Medicine and loved the retreat-style teaching, which inspired her to start Uproot Culinary, meant to complement the growth and nourishment characteristic of retreats.
Ashley and her team’s love for Earth’s beauty and bounty runs deep. They are dedicated to crafting dishes that utilize local ingredients and regional flavors.
Chef Jennie considers herself a lifelong student of the culinary arts. She lives to serve. She’s quite chatty and loves to talk about good parties, building community, and the art of hospitality. Jennie believes it’s all about connecting. She was a well-known community builder in L.A. during her forty-year career as a homestyle Americana caterer.
She made lifelong friends and advocates through delicious food & events. Jennie’s been married to the same man for over forty-five years and considers it her greatest accomplishment.
A radical optimist and dedicated steward of the earth, she is also a certified permaculturist, Master Food Preserver, and the best Grandma in Oakland!!
Chef Ashlee began her journey as a chef much like many others; standing beside family members who loved to cook, peeking over countertops, and asking countless questions. Coming from a big family, good food was always at the heart of their celebrations. At just 16, she landed her first job at a smoothie shop, and from that moment on, her passion for cooking continued to draw her back into the kitchen.
Most recently, Ashlee worked as a Line Cook at the Chez Panisse Café before joining the team at Uproot Culinary. She believes that food and the meals we share have the power to reconnect us to ourselves and to one another amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. Ashlee loves being part of creating delicious meals that invite people to slow down, feel nourished, and truly connect.
Chef Nora is a seasoned chef and caterer with a rich background in high-end restaurants and extensive experience in both front- and back-of-house catering operations. She has honed her craft in nourishing young families, accommodating specialty diets, and supporting postpartum parents with thoughtful, intentional meals.
Her passion lies in intimate kitchen settings, where she enjoys educating clients on the origins and care of their food while creating welcoming spaces to savor dishes that are delicious, beautiful, and accessible. Drawing inspiration from California and Mediterranean cuisine, Nora prioritizes organic, sustainable ingredients and thoughtfully caters to vegetarian, vegan, and keto preferences.
In addition to personalized meal services, she offers boutique catering that seamlessly blends aesthetic presentation with exceptional flavor. Her ultimate goal is to encourage a meaningful relationship with food; one that supports body care, nourishment, and the joyful exploration of diverse flavors.
Tessa is the Brand + Operations Manager at Uproot Culinary, where she brings heart, structure, and thoughtful organization to every part of the client and chef experience. With a strong background in operations, marketing, social media, and client care, Tessa ensures that each detail, from onboarding to communication to behind-the-scenes systems, runs smoothly and intentionally.
She works closely with Ashley as well as both clients and chefs to create seamless experiences rooted in trust, clarity, and connection. Tessa is especially passionate about building systems that support creative chefs while allowing families, retreat hosts, and clients to feel fully cared for and at ease.
At the center of her work is a belief that food is deeply personal and that the way it’s shared matters. Through her role at Uproot Culinary, Tessa helps bring together people, process, and purpose - so every meal feels as nourishing as it is meaningful.
LOCAL
MINDFUL
SUSTAINABLE
MINIMUM WASTE
OUR CULTURE
Our team of chefs are partners in your well-being.
We are experts at our craft and thoughtful stewards of the earth and the ingredients we use.
Every meal - inside your home or in a lush expanse of trees - is thoughtfully curated down to every last detail.
Our unwavering commitment is to make the kitchen and table an inviting and grounding space and leave everyone well-fed and nourished.