I’m so happy you’re here.

Smart Cooks is a weekly newsletter with recipes and writing for food lovers with busy brains. Whether you have a formal ADHD diagnosis like me, or you just feel overwhelmed in an overstimulating world, this is a place where you won’t have to wade through the algorithmic muck to get to the good stuff.

Smart Cooks is here to spark creativity, while helping you discover joy and ease in the kitchen.

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Who’s writing this thing?

Hi, I’m Catherine! I’m a writer, New Englander, mom of two young boys, and a professional home cook. I started my personal chef business at 22 years-old while pursuing a culinary degree, and Masters in Gastronomy at Boston University. After spending my college years putting all my earnings as a part-time server into hosting dinner parties, my experience at BU was pure bliss.

While I was working and wrapping up grad school, Sheryl Julian, former food editor of The Boston Globe, took me under her wing. I began developing recipes, styling photos, and reviewing restaurants for The Globe. From there I had the opportunity to contribute to several publications including The Food Lens, Saveur, Departures, and Serious Eats, and received the Les Dames d’Escoffier award for food writing.

After a several years of freelancing (and taking the bus from Boston to NYC to attend every cooking show open-call under the sun) I did a stint at WGBH as their digital food editor. When I heard that Christopher Kimball was launching Milk Street, I put all the TV audition practice to work, and was lucky to be cast as an original cast member of their Emmy-Winning TV show. I also spent 4 years as a lead culinary instructor in the Milk Street Cooking School, did some food styling for their cookbooks, and contributed to Milk Street Radio.

My most recent project was co-founding not just co., which makes a line of meal-starting pantry staples like Not Just Pasta Sauce and Not Just Salad dressing, which are available in grocery stores across the country, and at select Target stores.

I live in Somerville MA., with my husband Artie, our sons Jack and Pete, and our rascally black lab, Clementine.

Follow me on instagram and TikTok and keep up with the latest at catherinesmart.com