Laura Reigel

IN THE KITCHEN WITH LAURA REIGEL

Tell us about yourself:

Hi there, I’m Laura. I’m the owner and head content creator at Foodology Geek. I’m also the author of Beast Bowl Nutrition, my meal prep cookbook for foodies.

I’ve always loved cooking and have been a certified recipe hoarder since elementary school. I remember watching Julia Child on PBS and scribbling down recipes on index cards before age 10.

When all my friends subscribed to Teen Beat and Seventeen, I was flipping through Food & Wine and Bon Appetit. My mom thought I was weird. What 10-year-old is subscribing to cooking magazines? As a kid, my biggest dream was to become a travel food writer. But somehow, I became a scientist instead.

I was a DNA Analyst and Forensic Investigator for 18 years before I decided to leave my job solving homicides. I was diagnosed with job-induced PTSD and decided to leave forensics and turn towards cooking, which has always been a place where I felt grounded and connected.

My journey into food blogging began as a recovery tool for me. I turned my camera from crime scenes to food photography and started my blog. I’m here to stay. I love sharing recipes with people and helping them to feel more confident in the kitchen.

How did you get involved in cooking?

I’ve been cooking all my life. My dad was in the military, and we moved around a lot. In middle school, my brother and I started cooking after school to entertain ourselves and make new friends. Food has always been a way for me to connect with other people and build new relationships.

Cooking has also been how I stay connected to my past and all the places I’ve traveled. I learned to cook a wide variety of ethnic recipes living in Guam, Hawaii, and Southern California.

Cooking has always made me feel like I have roots, even when I didn’t.

Describe your cooking style:

I cook from my heart. I create recipes inspired by places I’ve lived, family and friends that I’ve known, and the places that I travel.

The primary flavors I lean into when creating new recipes are centered around fresh California cuisine, Asian food, and Mexican food. I’ve grown up with these influences and enjoy creating recipes that feature fresh ingredients and spicy flavors. I throw in a family recipe from time to time, especially around the holidays.

My secret superpower is reverse-engineering a recipe I’ve tasted on vacation or at a favorite restaurant. I often tap into my science background when cooking and developing recipes.

How did you learn about grass-fed meats?

I found US Wellness Meats while looking for a good source of grass-fed, pasture-raised beef and sustainable seafood. I’ve tried a few other sources and always come back to US Wellness Meats because of the variety and quality I find here.

What is your favorite recipe featuring grass-fed meat?

It’s so hard to pick just one. If I had only to eat one thing for the rest of my life, I’d have to go for something like braised beef cheeks or a home-cooked pot roast.

You’re stranded on a desert island; luckily, you’re stranded with your top 5 ingredients and one must-have kitchen tool:

Top 5 ingredients: My taco seasoning blend, salt, pepper, sriracha, masa flour. I might as well have as many fish tacos as I can while stranded.
Must have kitchen tool: My knife, of course.

Best cooking secret/tip/piece of advice you’ve learned:

My grandma taught me that food never needs to be complicated to make you feel good inside. The best food is found close to its source. A warm tomato plucked right out of the garden. A beautifully grilled steak seasoned with nothing but salt and pepper. These things are just good food. No recipe is needed.

What’s your favorite quote/song for culinary inspiration (if any)?

This quote about cooking is precisely how I have always felt. Because I moved so much growing up, I craved this togetherness and connection. Some people hoard things. I collect recipes and time around the table with the people I love the most.

“I realized very early the power of food to evoke memory, to bring people together, to transport you to other places, and I wanted to be a part of that.” – José Andrés Puerta

Anything else you want to share?

Don’t be afraid to eat meat!!

Your social media links (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/foodologygeek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodologygeek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodologygeek/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/foodologygeek/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodologygeek

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-c-reigel-6641a242/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodologygeek/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrfL6AsEdKqhkI9jYhunV5Q

Website: https://foodologygeek.com

Enter To Win!

Enter to Win our November 2023 Foodology Giveaway for a chance to win $150 bundle of delicious & nutritious grass-fed and pastured meats.
Contest runs from November 1 – November 12, 2023.