Jacquelynn Allen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Jacquelynn, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yes I most absolutely do! After many years of dreaming and planning, planning and dreaming, I finally bought a house in Italy! My house is located in Tuscany and when I look out of my bedroom or kitchen window, I see the beautiful view and famous rolling hills of Tuscany. My village is very quaint and the townspeople are very kind and welcoming. The most epic thing ever is now checked off of my bucket list!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey y’all! I’m Jacquelynn, the chef and owner behind Scents of Taste. For several years, I’ve been helping busy families and food lovers gather around the table with fresh, restaurant quality meals made right in their own kitchens. I believe cooking should feel joyful, personal, and a little bit instinctive, no measuring spoons required!
My weekly meal prep service takes the stress out of “what’s for dinner,” giving my clients time back while still letting them enjoy delicious, nourishing meals.
Whether I’m creating custom menus, testing new recipes, or sharing behind-the-scenes moments, my goal is simple: to make food exciting, effortless, and memorable.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’ve always known who I was. I never needed the world to tell me. From a young age, I believed in trusting myself, following my instincts, and creating my own path. The most important thing in life is to believe in yourself and truly know who you are. Your thoughts shape your reality, so when you decide who you are and what you want, the world rises to meet you.
I’ve built my life and business by breaking through barriers and refusing to be limited by other people’s expectations. I believe anything is possible when you lead with courage, stay grounded in who you are, and keep pushing forward no matter what.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
After my brother’s murder last Thanksgiving, suffering taught me the kind of strength I never knew I had. It forced me to face grief, depression, and heartbreak head-on, just as I had years earlier when I lost my husband. Those experiences broke me open, but they also rebuilt me into someone who refuses to stay down.
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. It taught me that even in the deepest pain, I can rise, I can keep going, and I can face life with a “what’s next I can take it” attitude. It gave me a perspective that failure, disappointment, and heartbreak are not the end, they are the fuel that drives me forward.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say my kids, Italy and my cooking. All 3 of those things are my heartbeat and my lifeline. They individually mean so much to me. All have been my therapy, my greatest and happiest moments. My true happiness lies within those 3 things.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
My customers would miss my wittiness, my delicious cooking that brings their families together where they have the opportunity to sit down, eat, drink and laugh with their loved ones. Me catering to them provides them with more time for the more important things and that’s family time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scentsoftaste.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scentsoftaste_personalchef
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scentsoftastepersonalchef
- Other: Substack:
Scentsoftaste.substack.com
