Natasha Bailey (she/her) is a chef, mentor, advocate, teacher and podcast host living in Kansas City, Missouri. After becoming a holistic health practitioner, she graduated from culinary school. The work that followed showed her that serving food made from fresh, quality ingredients can change how people feel for the better – but too many people don’t have access to good, fresh food. As head chef for Thelma’s, Kansas City’s only “pay-it-forward kitchen,” she puts fresh, wholesome meals directly into the hands of community members from every economic background, and she trains incoming recruits to rejoin the culinary workforce. She advocates, in government, for equitable foodways and access to early childhood care, through non-profit work.
She’s the co-writer and voice of Hungry for MO, a seasonal podcast sponsored by The University of Missouri. This year she began teaching her own culinary careers program to sixth and seventh graders. Natasha lives in Kansas City with her husband and five children. She’s a member of Les Dames D’Escoffier and has been a judge for The James Beard Awards and National Cookbook Awards.
Follow Natasha on:
- Instagram: @eatablekc