Hello, I’m Grace Thompson, a self-taught home cook who turned my midlife career pivot into a culinary adventure. After twenty years in corporate marketing, I walked away from the boardroom to pursue my lifelong passion for food—proving it’s never too late to reinvent yourself through cooking.
Unlike classically trained chefs, my approach comes from years of cooking for a family with varying dietary needs and preferences. I specialize in flexible recipes that can be customized for multiple diets at once (the vegetarian daughter, the gluten-free spouse, the picky eater), all without making multiple meals or sacrificing flavor.
My popular blog “Second Act Kitchen” chronicles my journey from novice to confident cook, mistakes and all. My content resonates particularly with home cooks over forty who are rediscovering their kitchens after years of convenience cooking or are adapting to empty nest life and cooking for smaller households.
My first cookbook, “Adaptable Table,” focuses on base recipes that can be modified in multiple directions while maintaining their integrity. I also lead virtual cooking classes designed specifically for midlife beginners who might feel intimidated by the modern food world.
What drives my work is the belief that cooking is one of the most accessible forms of creativity available to us at any age. My kitchen is a judgment-free zone where experimentation is encouraged, shortcuts are embraced when needed, and the joy of feeding ourselves and others is the ultimate measure of success.
