Private chef, Meredith H.'s (@wishbonekitchen) talks inspiration and caviar in honor of Women's History Month. 

How was Wishbone kitchen born and how does that define your cooking style?

During lockdown I decided to start a blog to share recipes with friends and family. I named the blog Wishbone Kitchen because growing up my mom would roast a chicken at least once a week for dinner and she'd always save the wishbone for good luck. My cooking style has always been inspired by my mom: simple, delicious and nutritious home cooking. 

What was your introduction to caviar? What does “caviar” mean to you?

To me, caviar is synonymous with celebration. I can't recall my first time having caviar; however, the first time I purchased it was this past winter. My family's big Christmas plans were derailed because of Omicron, so it was just going to be my mom and I. We spotted some caviar on sale at Whole Foods and decided to treat ourselves. That one tin of caviar made what would've been a sad and lonely Christmas Eve into a really special memory.  

What does it mean to be a female chef today?

As a female chef, I often feel like I'm constantly having to prove myself. I especially feel like private chef work doesn't get as much recognition as restaurant work. As I continue to grow in my career, I've learned to make peace with these insecurities, keep my head down, and focus on producing the best work that I can. 

Recently, I've had a handful of aspiring young female chefs who saw my videos on Tiktok and messaged me saying that my story inspired them to pursue cooking professionally, and even gave them the boost of confidence they needed to enroll in culinary school. This made me realize that my greatest responsibility as a female chef is to be an example for the next generation.

What is your favorite dish to cook and why?

My favorite dish to cook is pasta. I love making handmade pastas, pasta out of a box, and everything in between. Ever since I was a baby my parents would call me the "carb queen" because I only ate beige foods. While my pallet has expanded, my love for pasta has stayed true.

I also love how versatile pasta can be. There's endless room for creativity. Pasta is also extremely accessible. As a recipe blogger, my top priority is making recipes that I know others will be able to / want to recreate at home.  

Please recommend several women-owned restaurants:

Chef Missy Robbins is probably my biggest inspiration, so I would be remiss not to mention Misi and Lilia. In 2019, I had the opportunity to trail for a night at Misi and it was an amazing experience. 

Via Carota is another women owned Italian restaurant that had a huge impact on shaping my cooking style. 

Buvette is an unassuming little french cafe, that I happen to live dangerously close to. They are serving some of the best french food (and french vibes) in the city. Dining here is like being transported to Paris.

Learn more about Meredith on her instagram here.