Chef · Experiential Host · Culinary Consultant
Food as a love language. Intimate dinners, cooking classes, and collaborative experiences rooted in season, curiosity, and connection.
Based in Virginia,
working wherever a table can be set.
"My work is plant-forward, farm-driven, and designed to be felt through taste, texture, warmth, and story."
About
I believe a meal is never just a meal. It's the smell of something slow-roasting, the way a table looks when it's been set with care, the conversation that only happens when people are finally, genuinely fed.
I'm the founder of The Conscious Table, a project rooted in the idea that cooking is one of the most powerful ways to connect people to place, to seasons, and to one another.
My food is plant-forward and farm-driven, shaped by the Virginia landscape and the farmers, growers, and makers I've had the privilege of working alongside.
Work With Me
Each experience is custom-built around your vision, your season, your people.
01
Intimate, seated meals for 4–20 guests. Menus built around what's at peak season, often in collaboration with local farms. From supper clubs to milestone celebrations.
Virginia & Mid-Atlantic · Custom menus
02
Hands-on, convivial sessions for small groups. Technique-forward but never intimidating, designed for curious home cooks and professionals alike.
Groups of 4–12 · Private & corporate
03
Full culinary programming for multi-day retreats, farm dinners, and brand activations. I handle concept, menu, sourcing, and execution.
Full-service · Travel available
04
Menu development, recipe testing, and concept guidance for restaurants, food brands, and hospitality businesses seeking a more intentional approach.
Restaurants · Brands · Nonprofits
05
Dinners and events hosted on working farms, designed to tell the story of a place, a harvest, a season. A signature offering of The Conscious Table.
Seasonal · Site-specific
06
Talks and facilitated experiences centered on food, community, and conscious consumption. Past venues include Creative Mornings Richmond.
Keynote · Panel · Workshop
Portfolio
Supper clubs, garden dinners, farm tables, and seasonal celebrations. A glimpse into the breadth of the work.
Kind Words
"EmmaLee has a rare gift for making every guest feel like the meal was made just for them. The food was extraordinary, but it was the warmth and intention behind every detail that made our evening unforgettable."
— [Client Name], Private Dinner Guest
"The farm dinner EmmaLee created for our retreat was the highlight of the entire weekend. She sources with such care and cooks with such love — our guests are still talking about it months later."
— [Client Name], Retreat Organizer
"I've attended a lot of cooking classes, but EmmaLee's was something else entirely. She teaches with so much joy and curiosity — I left not just with new skills, but a completely different relationship to food."
— [Client Name], Cooking Class Attendee
Featured In
Creative Mornings
Guest Speaker, Richmond Virginia
October 2025
Richmond Magazine
The Conscious Table
March 2025
The Conscious Table
Founder & Culinary Director
Ongoing
Inquire
Whether you're dreaming of an intimate dinner for eight or a full retreat experience, I'd love to hear what you're imagining.
I take on a limited number of events each season to ensure each one receives the care it deserves.