I’m Karen! I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m Karen Tedesco, a professionally trained chef, cookbook author and photographer. I am the former food editor at the Village Voice in New York City.
I have to confess right off that bat that I’m pretty much always craving some particular thing to eat or cook. That must explain why I love what I do, and I love to talk about it! My appetite is sparked by the sensuality of food — all the colors, textures and smells.
Because I wanted to learn on the job, I talked my way into jobs in some top-tier restaurant kitchens. I’m grateful for all the skills I picked up along the way, including understanding how food science works in cooking, and how to approach recipe development.
For many years, I was a cooking teacher and personal chef. I created and cooked everything from fancy dinner parties and freezer-ready weeknight meals for my clients, all of them families that wanted simple, home-cooked food.
My goal is to help make cooking easier and more approachable, and to create meals that taste as delicious as possible!
What you’ll find on Familystyle Food:
- Original (never cookie-cutter!) recipes that I personally create to excite your appetite, along with recommended tools and techniques for success.
- I’m a seasonal recipes expert — expect lots of vibrant produce in my recipes, always kept laidback and unfussy.
- Professionally tested recipes that are geared toward healthful meals made from scratch, with minimally processed ingredients. Many are vegan and/or vegetarian so there’s something for everyone.
- They range from quick and easy (ready in less than an hour) one-dish mains and salads to simple desserts and dishes to make for entertaining and relaxed weekend cooking.
- Read my editorial guidelines for more details.
A little about me:
Familystyle Food is inspired by the tables of my childhood in Rhode Island, in an old-school Italian-American family where long Sunday dinners were a ritual. Those hours spent around the table were a gift from my grandparents.
It was the best way they knew to keep family bound together and nourished, as generations multiplied, kids grew up and babies were born.
Maybe for that reason, I adore the simplicity of rustic food. I have a depth of knowledge about Mediterranean cooking for sure. But I’m drawn to any food culture where dishes are shared communally, with big platters that get passed around the table.
