Work With Rachel
Food has always been my way of bringing people together, whether that’s around a dinner table here in Iowa or through a recipe shared online.
I’m a former restaurant chef and the founder of The Hearty Life, a chef-driven food brand rooted in from-scratch cooking, balanced flavors, and approachable techniques.
My work lives in two spaces:
Locally, I provide private chef services, weekly meal support, private dinners, cooking classes, and small events across Iowa to make mealtime less stressful and bring people together over food.
Nationally, I partner with food and kitchen brands to create chef-developed recipes, professional food photography, and engaging digital content that connects with real home cooks.
Over the years, I’ve collaborated with brands including AE Dairy, Hamilton Beach, The Feed Feed, Papa Murphy’s, Fareway, Beyond Meat, and more. Each partnership is thoughtfully crafted to align with your goals while staying authentic to my audience and culinary perspective.
If you’re interested in collaborating or booking a local service, explore the offerings below or reach out to me at, [email protected].
Local Services
Bringing The Hearty Life beyond the blog and into real kitchens across Iowa. From private chef services to interactive cooking experiences, each offering is chef-driven, personalized, and crafted from scratch.
–Private Chef & Weekly Meal Support
Personalized in-home meal prep designed for busy households who want real, from-scratch meals without the planning, shopping, or cleanup. This typically includes customized weekly menus, family-style meals or prepared in your home, or individual meals tailored to your preferences and schedule.
–Private Dinners
Multi-course, seasonal dinners hosted in your home or venue of choice. Each menu is thoughtfully developed and prepared from scratch, highlighting balanced flavors and elevated comfort-style cooking. Perfect for anniversaries, intimate gatherings, and special celebrations – really anytime you want to sit back and enjoy time with your guests instead of being in the kitchen!
–Cooking Classes & Workshops
Private, hands-on cooking experiences hosted in your home or a venue you provide, such as an Airbnb or event space. I bring the instruction, guidance, and chef expertise directly to you.
Each class is interactive, approachable, and designed to be both educational and memorable. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting a girls’ night, planning a team event, or simply want to learn new skills, I guide your group step-by-step through a new dish or technique.
–Catering & Small Events
Custom menus for showers, corporate gatherings, holiday parties, and special occasions. Every dish is prepared from scratch with a chef’s attention to detail, designed to feel elevated yet approachable.
–Local Orders & Small-Batch Meals
From small-batch baked goods to prepared family-style meals, I offer locally crafted, chef-developed food made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.Whether you’re hosting, gifting, or simply need a break from cooking, I can create something tailored to your needs.
Local pickup or delivery available. Reach out for current offerings or to discuss a custom order.
–Corporate Team Experiences
Interactive cooking demos, team-building classes, and on-site tastings designed to bring people together through food.A unique way to create connection, collaboration, and memorable shared experiences.
Caterings 
Local Events 
In-Home Demos 
Custom Orders
Weekly Meal Prep 
Corporate Catering 
Private Cooking Classes 
Personal Chef Services
Ready for Stress-Free Meals Each Week?
Fresh, chef-prepared meals designed to make busy weeks easier, made from scratch and ready when you need them.
If you’re ready to collaborate, I’d love to connect.
Email me directly at [email protected] or fill out the form below!
Media kit and rate sheet available upon request.
Contact Form
Custom Brand Offerings
I offer customized packages tailored to your specific needs as a brand, media rate available upon request:
- Food Photography & Styling: Professional, styled photography that makes your product stand out. Perfect for websites, social media, promotional materials, or packaging. I also collaborate with restaurants and bloggers to bring culinary creations to life.
- Recipe Development: Custom, chef-tested recipes designed to showcase your product at its best. Complete with step-by-step instructions and one-of-a-kind process shots that encourage readers to cook and share.
- Sponsored Posts: Authentic blog features and Instagram content that connect your product with a trusted, engaged audience. I craft campaigns that feel approachable while driving brand visibility and conversions.
- User Generated Content (UGC): Authentic, trend-driven content created with your brand voice in mind. From short-form videos to styled photos, I deliver high-quality UGC that you can use across your own channels to boost engagement and build trust. Whether you need one-off campaigns or ongoing content, I can help.
Why Partner With Rachel & The Hearty Life
- Culinary school graduate & former restaurant chef
- Chef-crafted, approachable recipes that inspire confidence in home cooking
- Professional photography and video tailored to your brand’s needs
- Long-term partnerships and custom packages available
