About The Skillful Cook (Formerly The Kiwi Cook)
The Skillful Cook Welcome to The Skillful Cook! Dive into our trove of unique recipes, insightful culinary advice, and expertly vetted cookware reviews. We bring the joy of delicious home-cooked meals straight to your table!
Our Mission
Our mission is multifold:
- Bring families and friends together over delicious, home-cooked meals.
- Share culinary knowledge that can turn any cooking novice into a pro.
- Guide you in finding the best cookware, ensuring you get great value without compromising on safety or health.
Through unique recipes, expert guides, and in-depth tutorials, we ensure you’re armed with the best of the culinary world.
Our Story
Our tale began in 2013 when The Kiwi Cook sprouted as a quaint personal blog, dedicated to sharing mouth-watering recipes. But just like a recipe that evolves with each addition, so did our ambitions and our brand.
Ten years down the line, in 2023, our love for food grew beyond recipes. Recognizing a need for reliable culinary advice and genuine cookware reviews, we rebranded to The Skillful Cook. Our platform now aimed to be the ultimate culinary guide, a place where aspiring chefs and home cooks could gather, learn, and share.
But our essence remains untouched – it’s still about the love of food, the joy of sharing, and the passion for culinary exploration. As we’ve grown, so has our community. Thousands now turn to us every day for guidance, and we couldn’t be prouder and more grateful.
Who We Are
- Culinary Connoisseurs: Leading our charge are experienced culinary experts. Their years in kitchens, big and small, have furnished them with insights that they now share with our community.
- Product Testers: Before a product even gets a nod from us, it goes through rigorous real-life testing. We dissect every nook and cranny, ensuring we put our stamp only on the best.
- Medical Validators: Not just about taste, we care about the health implications of our recommendations. That’s where our medical professionals come in, ensuring all health-related claims are factual.
- Support Team: Behind every successful article, guide, and review are our editors, designers, and tech team. Their combined efforts ensure a smooth user experience, visually appealing design, and content that is both helpful and engaging.
Meet Our Team
Ellyn Eddy
Title: Author, professional writer & editor
Location: Chicago, IL, USA.
Experience: Pro author and content writer since 2005. Her “mom resume” includes investigating all things food and wellness.
About Ellyn
When Ellyn moved to Chicago, she was dazzled by the array of produce and cuisines available in the city. Now armed with a pantry of exotic ingredients, a shelf of nutrition books, and a bit of international travel experience, she loves creating healthy and beautiful meals. And, of course, since she inherited the “writing gene,” she has to tell everyone about what she learns.
Dr Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD
Title: Medical Doctor
Location: Bathinda, India
Education: Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
About Harshi
Dr. Harshi Dhingra, a distinguished Pathologist, earned her MBBS from Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University and an MD in Pathology from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Renowned for her contributions in diagnostics and research, her work is prominently featured on Research Gate and Google Scholar. Complementing her extensive education, she also undertakes roles in teaching, consulting, and medical content review, showcasing her multifaceted expertise in the medical field.
Amy Hand
Title: Professional Pastry Chef
Location: Cape Town, South Africa.
Education: Diploma in Patisserie from Silwood School of Cookery.
Experience: 4 years as a professional pastry chef, 3+ years as a food writer.
About Amy
After finding the chef life a little too high-paced, Amy decided to take her cooking skills and use them to teach others through food writing. She uses her knowledge as a pastry chef and experience as a head chef to write articles that are helpful and entertaining to the average home cook.
Sirwan Ajman
Title: Culinary writer and food enthusiast.
Location: United Arab Emirates.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.
Experience: 3 years as a health-conscious café owner, 4+ years as a food writer.
About Sirwan
Sirwan is a culinary enthusiast who can spend hours in the kitchen. He enjoys experimenting with new flavors through spices, sauces, and different cooking methods. He loves to try out dishes from all corners of the world, with a particular fondness for the bold and vibrant flavors of Mexican and Mediterranean cuisines.
Sirwan is also the proud owner of a health-conscious café where he serves up wholesome drinks, sandwiches, and salads. He dreams of one day opening a large restaurant and expanding to multiple locations.
Belinda (Bel) Woodhouse
Title: Professional Food and Travel Writer
Location: Yucatán, Mexico.
Experience: 6+ years of experience writing for large online publications
About Bel
Belinda “Bel” Woodhouse is a standout food and travel writer, known for her stories as International Living’s Mexico Correspondent. She expertly mixes the tastes and stories of the Yucatán with her travels around the world. As a writer, Belinda brings places and flavors to life, and her work in different magazines and websites shows her love and skill for the subject.
Ellisha Rader Mannering
Title: Professional Food Writer.
Location: Ohio, USA.
Education: Hocking College.
Experience: 15+ years as a food writer.
About Ellisha
Ellisha has been a freelance writer for over 15 years. She loves to cook, try new recipes, and learn about the science of food. She loves cooking for her family, planning meals for parties and special occasions, and coming up with new and original recipes that feature unique flavors. She enjoys combining her knowledge of cooking and recipes with her writing skills to inspire others to try new cooking techniques and flavors.
Susan Knaap, AKA Kiwi Cook
Title: Recipe Writer (Retired)
Location: New Zealand
Education: Whitecliffe College
Experience: 15+ years as a food writer.
About Susan
Meet Susan, also known as the Kiwi Cook, hailing from the beautiful country of New Zealand. With a unique heritage blending Dutch, British, and Kiwi roots, Susan grew up enjoying a diverse range of meals prepared by her mother. It wasn’t until the age of 50 that she discovered her own passion for cooking when a new oven ignited her love for baking and experimenting with an ever-growing collection of kitchen gadgets and ingredients.
Susan stopped food blogging in 2021 and is no longer contributing to this site, but her delightful recipes remain available for everyone to enjoy.
Our Responsibility
In an online space cluttered with misinformation, our role goes beyond being just another website. We see ourselves as custodians of trust, integrity, and ethical content production.
- Real People, Real Experience: Every piece of content comes from years of hard-earned experience. We detest cookie-cutter advice, and we want to give insights straight from those who have lived and breathed the culinary world.
- Fact Above Fiction: Every health claim undergoes rigorous scrutiny. We dissect studies, debunk myths, and present you with product advice that stands firm on scientific grounds.
- Beyond Brand Claims: In an era of flashy marketing, we stand firm on authenticity. Every product recommendation is based on tests and usage, not brand promises. We sift through countless reviews, look beyond fancy advertising, and bring you the raw, unadulterated truth.
- Affiliation with Integrity: Our use of affiliate programs is transparent. It funds our operations, but never at the cost of our integrity. We champion unbiased recommendations, and we make sure our suggestions are a result of quality and not compensation.
- Eco-Conscious Recommendations: We’re not just about the perfect dish; we’re about creating it responsibly. Every product we review gets rated on its environmental footprint. But it’s not just about ratings; it’s about promoting a lifestyle of conscious consumption. We believe every meal, every dish, and every kitchen utensil should contribute positively to our planet.
Connect With Us
Be it praise, a suggestion, or a query, we’re all ears. Engage with us through:
- Email: [email protected]
- Comments: Drop them right under our articles!
We believe in a world where culinary expertise is within everyone’s grasp, and your feedback helps us refine our journey towards that vision.