Hi there, I’m Clara Hayes, a 35-year-old chef, mother, and unapologetic lover of good butter, based in New York City. I wasn’t born with a whisk in my hand, but I did grow up in a kitchen where the scent of toasting bagels on a Sunday morning was as reliable as the sound of the subway rumbling below. My grandmother taught me early that food is more than sustenance—it’s community, it’s culture, and sometimes, it’s the best way to say ‘I love you’ in a city that never stops moving.

My journey into the culinary world wasn’t a straight line. I studied literature at NYU, worked in a quirky Greenwich Village bookstore, and even flirted with a career in marketing. But I kept coming back to the kitchen. There was something about the rhythm of chopping vegetables from the Union Square Greenmarket, the alchemy of turning simple ingredients into something that made people close their eyes in delight, that called to me.

At 30, I took a leap and enrolled in a renowned culinary program in SoHo. I was the oldest student in the class and probably the only one who brought Tupperware full of homemade stews for lunch. But I loved every second. I apprenticed in a few bustling West Village bistros and eventually started a pop-up supper club in my tiny apartment that blossomed into a full-time gig.

These days, I run a tiny, beloved neighborhood restaurant in Brooklyn. My food philosophy is simple: globally inspired but locally sourced, seasonal, soulful, and a little indulgent. I believe a good meal doesn’t have to be complicated, and that cooking should be joyful, not stressful. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve burned more than one batch of cookies and once mistook salt for sugar in a batch of birthday cupcakes (it was…memorable). But I’ve learned to laugh and keep stirring.

I especially love connecting with other women who are navigating the beautiful chaos of daily life. Whether you’re feeding a family, cooking for one, or trying to spice up your weekly routine, I’m here to share, inspire, and remind you that there’s magic in a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet and a pinch of creativity. Let’s cook with heart, celebrate our wins (and flops), and always make room for dessert.