BIG NEWS: The Artful Gourmet Is Launching on Patreon (And I Have a Gift for You 🎁)

For years, The Artful Gourmet has been so much more than recipes.

It’s been a place where food meets storytelling. Where travel inspires creativity. Where photography captures moments worth savoring. Where music, memories, culture, and conversation come together around the table.

What started as a simple food blog has grown into a multimedia platform that now includes recipes, food photography, podcasts, videos, interviews, workshops, travel stories, and creative inspiration shared with readers and listeners around the world.

And today, I’m excited to announce the next chapter.

Welcome to The Artful Gourmet Patreon Community

I’ve officially launched a Patreon page where you can access both FREE and premium member content while helping support the future growth of The Artful Gourmet.

This new community gives us a chance to connect on a deeper level and gives me the opportunity to share even more of what I love creating.

Think of it as your all-access backstage pass to everything happening behind the scenes.

What You’ll Find Inside

🍷 Exclusive recipes and cooking content

🎙️ Bonus podcast episodes and extended interviews

📸 Behind-the-scenes food styling and photography content

🎥 Live cooking demonstrations and food styling/photography workshops

💬 Monthly Q&A sessions

📚 Digital downloads, free guides, templates, and e-books

✨ Early access to new projects and content

🌎 Travel stories, restaurant discoveries, and local guides

🎵 Groovy Eats bonus content and retro food inspiration

📷 Food photography and content creation tips

🎤 Private coaching opportunities and member experiences

📸 Special member rates on food styling and photography shoots

❤️ A supportive community of food lovers, creators, travelers, photographers, and lifelong learners

Whether you’re here for the recipes, the storytelling, the photography, the podcasts, or simply the inspiration, there’s a membership level designed for you.

Membership Levels

FREE MEMBER

Perfect for staying connected.

✔ Public posts and updates

✔ Select podcast episodes

✔ Community announcements

✔ Content previews and sneak peeks

BASIC MEMBER

For readers who want more exclusive content.

✔ Everything in Free

✔ Exclusive recipes

✔ Bonus articles and newsletters

✔ Early access to content

✔ Behind-the-scenes updates

✔ Downloadable resources

PLUS MEMBER

For food lovers and creative explorers.

✔ Everything in Basic

✔ Live workshops

✔ Cooking demonstrations

✔ Expanded tutorials

✔ Premium downloads and guides

✔ Member-only videos

✔ Interactive Q&A sessions

PREMIUM MEMBER

The ultimate Artful Gourmet experience.

✔ Everything in Plus

✔ Private 1:1 video calls

✔ Personalized creative feedback

✔ Content and photography mentoring

✔ Priority Q&A access

✔ VIP member experiences

✔ Exclusive coaching opportunities

✔ Private mastermind-style discussions

✔ Annual virtual member events

BONUS FREE MEMBERSHIP GIFT 🎁

To celebrate the launch, I’m offering a special gift to my community.

The first 5 people who sign up will receive a FREE 1-Year Plus Membership to The Artful Gourmet Patreon.

That’s a $120 value absolutely free. 🎉

This special promotion starts today and ends on July 14, 2026, or whenever all five memberships have been claimed—whichever comes first.

If you’ve been curious about joining, now is the perfect time.

🎁 Sign Up & Claim Your Free Membership Gift

Subscribe for free 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/KristenHessxTheArtfulGourmet

Become a Member 👉https://www.patreon.com/cw/KristenHessxTheArtfulGourmet/membership

Refer a Member & Get 20% Off 1 Month 👉 Get 20% off one month membership (any tier) when you refer a someone to become a paid member – use code E59AF

Listen to the Latest Podcast Episodes

THE ARTFUL GOURMET PODCAST | With Kristen Hess

Welcome to the intersection of culinary artistry, creative business, and retro soul. Hosted by Kristen Hess—professional Food Stylist for KitchenAid and Food Network, Commercial Photographer, and featured cast member of the 2026 “Women In Power” TV series—this is the podcast for those who believe life should be lived artfully, one bite at a time.

From the high-stakes sets of NYC to the vibrant flavors of the modern kitchen, Kristen pulls back the lens on what it truly takes to build a creative life and a thriving brand.

The Artful Gourmet Podcast features three signature series:

✨ INTO FOCUS Bring your vision and your business into high definition. This mindset and motivational series dives deep into the psychology of creativity, the “Art of the Pivot,” and the resilience needed to succeed as a modern entrepreneur.

🎙️ UNFILTERED (Interview Series!) Raw, real, and inspiring conversations with the Creators, Tastemakers, and Movers & Shakers who are redefining their industries. Kristen sits down with world-class entrepreneurs to uncover the unfiltered stories behind their greatest successes and most pivotal lessons.

🕺 GROOVY EATS Step into the culinary time machine! This nostalgic series celebrates the iconic food, music, and culture of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Featuring guest artists and reimagined retro recipes, we’re bringing the “Groovy” back to the kitchen with style and soul.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Whether you’re a foodie, a chef, food writer, creative entrepreneur, or a fan of the “Hero Shot,” subscribe to stay inspired, stay focused, and stay groovy.

🎙️ Listen to the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/rss/KristenHessxTheArtfulGourmet?auth=fMS-Co7Y9z2670p5OmDLtZan2lCypB-A&show=2216657

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@theartfulgourmet

Why Patreon?

Creating meaningful content takes time, passion, creativity, and a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work.

Your membership helps support:

Recipe development
Podcast production
Food Styling, Photography and video creation
Workshops and educational resources
Travel and storytelling projects
New cooking video series and creative experiments
The continued growth of The Artful Gourmet

Most importantly, it allows me to keep creating independent content that inspires, teaches, entertains, and brings people together through food and storytelling.

Let’s Build Something Amazing Together

Whether you’ve been following along for years or you’re just discovering The Artful Gourmet, I want to thank you for being here.

Your support means more than you know.

I’m incredibly excited about what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.

Pull up a chair.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, a great cup of coffee, or your favorite cocktail.

The table is set.

And you’re invited.

I’m so glad you’re here.

With gratitude,

Kristen

Founder & Creative Director

The Artful Gourmet

Food Stylist • Photographer • Writer • Podcast Host • Storyteller

Follow Along:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theartfulgourmet

Website: https://www.kristen-hess.com

Blog: https://www.theartfulgourmet.com

Substack: https://artfulgourmet.substack.com

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartfulgourmet

June 11, 2026June 18, 2026

Better to Fail Gloriously ✨

What Anthony Bourdain Taught Me About Taking Chances, Starting Over, and Trusting the Journey

“Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply try. — Anthony Bourdain

There’s something about June that feels hopeful.

Maybe it’s the longer days, the farmers markets bursting with color, or the smell of freshly cut grass drifting through an open window.

Or maybe it’s because summer always feels like a fresh start.

A new season.

A chance to begin again.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Anthony Bourdain and one of my favorite quotes from him:

“It’s better to try and fail gloriously than to not try at all.”

Every time I hear those words, they stop me in my tracks.

Because if I’m being honest, there have been plenty of times in my life when I almost didn’t try.

Times when I questioned myself.

Times when I wondered if I was too old, too late, too inexperienced, or simply not good enough.

Moving to New York City.

Starting The Artful Gourmet.

Launching a podcast.

Creating YouTube videos.

Applying for dream jobs.

Pitching magazines.

Putting myself out there creatively.

None of it came with a guarantee.

And that’s exactly why it mattered.

Anthony Bourdain Wasn’t an Overnight Success

One of the things I admire most about Bourdain is that his success story wasn’t neat and tidy.

For years he worked in restaurant kitchens, often struggling, often wondering what was next.

Before he became a bestselling author, television host, and one of the most respected storytellers in the world, he was simply a chef trying to make a living.

Then, at age 44, everything changed.

His book Kitchen Confidential became a phenomenon and launched a second act that nobody could have predicted.

Imagine if he had talked himself out of writing it.

Imagine if he thought it was too late.

Imagine if he never took the chance.

The world would have missed out on one of its greatest voices.

And that’s a lesson worth remembering.

Just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it never will.

Curiosity Is Greater Than Fear

One of Bourdain’s most famous quotes was:

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts. It even breaks your heart. But that’s okay.”

I think that quote applies to life just as much as travel.

Life isn’t always comfortable.

Building a business isn’t comfortable.

Changing careers isn’t comfortable.

Starting over certainly isn’t comfortable.

But growth rarely happens inside our comfort zone.

The most meaningful things in my life have happened because I was willing to get uncomfortable.

Not because I knew exactly what would happen.

But because I was curious enough to find out.

Bourdain approached the world with curiosity.

He sat down with strangers.

He tried unfamiliar foods.

He visited places most tourists would never go.

He listened.

He learned.

He stayed open.

What if we approached our own lives the same way?

What if instead of focusing on what could go wrong, we focused on what we might discover?

Progress Isn’t Always Visible

One of the hardest things about pursuing a dream is that progress often happens quietly.

You put in the work.

You show up.

You keep creating.

And sometimes it feels like nothing is happening.

I’ve felt that way more times than I can count.

But then I look back and realize something important:

The growth was happening all along.

The connections.

The skills.

The experience.

The confidence.

The opportunities.

They were all building beneath the surface.

Much like a garden in spring.

The seeds don’t bloom overnight.

But they’re growing.

Even when you can’t see it.

That’s why I think summer is such a beautiful reminder to keep going.

Everything around us is proof that growth takes time.

A Bowl of Soup and a Fresh Start

Whenever the seasons change, I find myself drawn back to simple recipes.

Food has always been my way of slowing down and reconnecting with myself.

This Spring Minestrone Soup is exactly that.

Fresh peas.

Tender zucchini.

Green beans.

Herbs from the garden.

Bright lemon.

A little Parmesan.

Simple ingredients that come together to create something nourishing and comforting.

And honestly?

It feels like a metaphor for life.

A handful of small things can become something beautiful when given enough time.

The same is true for dreams.

Spring Vegetable Soup

Serving Size:

Time:

45 mins

Difficulty:

intermediate

2 small carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 small zucchini, diced
1 small butternut squash, diced
1 bunch escarole, chopped
½ cup peas, frozen
1 tablespoon basil leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped ¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for bread and for drizzling on soup
4 quarts chicken stock
1 small ciabatta bread
Sea salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Directions

Sauté carrots, celery and onions in a large stock pot over medium heat, for approximately 5 minutes, making sure that you stir the vegetables while they cook
Add chicken stock to the pan. Increase the heat to high, cover the pan, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
Slice bread into 1” thick slices. Brush slices with the additional olive oil on both sides and place in a sauté pan over low heat. Turn bread slices once and cook until they are golden brown. Place bread in a tray and lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Set aside.
Add butternut squash to the stockpot and cook for 3 minutes.
Add zucchini and peas to the stockpot and cook for 3 more minutes.
Add escarole, basil, parsley, salt and pepper and cook for 4 additional minutes.
Remove two ladles of soup from the stockpot and puree in a blender, then return the pureed soup to the pot (the puree will thicken the soup). Stir and cook for 1 minute, then turn off the heat.
Add some grated cheese into the soup and stir. Ladle soup in individual bowls, drizzle oil and sprinkle additional cheese.

The same is true for healing.

The same is true for starting over.

Serve it on a warm June evening and make a toast to whatever new chapter you’re stepping into.

So Here’s Your Reminder

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start something…

This is it.

Apply for the job. Launch the business. Write the article.

Start the podcast. Take the trip. Learn the skill.

Make the call. Send the email. Try.

Dreams take time.

Because as Anthony Bourdain reminded us:

“Your body is not a temple. It’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

Life is messy.

The path rarely unfolds exactly as planned.

But the alternative—never trying at all—is far worse.

Summer is here.

A new season is beginning.

And maybe your next chapter is waiting on the other side of one brave decision.

Here’s to fresh starts.

Here’s to curiosity.

Here’s to hope.

And here’s to failing gloriously.

Because sometimes that’s exactly how the best stories begin.

—

With gratitude,

Kristen

Continue the Journey

📖 Read the full companion essay on Substack

Subscribe for weekly stories about food, creativity, travel, mindset, entrepreneurship, and living a more artful life.

🎙️ Stay tuned for the companion podcast episode – coming soon

The Artful Gourmet Podcast is available on:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• iHeartRadio
• SoundCloud

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need a little encouragement today.

Because sometimes the biggest adventure starts with simply saying yes.

“The greatest risk isn’t failure. It’s never beginning.”

More recipes you might enjoy:

Gutsch’s Linguine & Clams

Rochester-Style Chicken French

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Noodle Salad (Keto/Low carb)

Sign up for our Substack newsletter

Tune in to the Artful Gourmet Podcast

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

May 11, 2026May 22, 2026

Kristen Hess Featured on Women in Power TV | The Artful Gourmet

Reinvention Is Power

Watch Kristen Hess in Women in Power TV series on Inside Success Networks! I’m so happy to share this amazing journey and the show with you all as there are so many other amazing and inspiring women on the show and each story, including my own is heartfelt, and full of lessons for life and business. My episode goes into how I built a life shaped by creativity, resilience, and reinvention.

Growing up in Rochester, New York, I was inspired early by art, ambition, and the electric energy of New York City. Years later, that childhood dream carried me through careers in graphic design, advertising, and ultimately into entrepreneurship as the founder of The Artful Gourmet.

As a food stylist, photographer, writer/recipe developer and creative entrepreneur, I help brands make their food beautiful while sharing mindset lessons with creators and small entrepreneurs through my Artful Gourmet Podcast series. When personal loss and unexpected challenges shake my world, I face a defining choice. Through food styling, photography, cooking, podcasting, video, and storytelling, I began transforming pain into purpose, proving that creativity, determination and resilience can reshape a life – and that your past doesn’t define your future.

Kristen Hess joins the Cast of ‘Women in Power’ on Inside Success Networks

Kristen Hess in Women in Power TV show

Kristen Hess builds a life shaped by creativity, resilience, and reinvention. Growing up in Rochester, New York, she was inspired early by art, ambition, and the electric energy of New York City. Years later, that childhood dream carries her through careers in graphic design, advertising, and ultimately into entrepreneurship as the founder of The Artful Gourmet.

As a food stylist, photographer, and creative entrepreneur, Kristen helps brands make their food beautiful while sharing mindset lessons with creators and small entrepreneurs. When personal loss and unexpected challenges shake her world, she faces a defining choice. Through food styling, photography, and storytelling, Kristen begins transforming pain into purpose, proving that creativity and resilience can reshape a life. Watch this inspiring interview about creativity, reinvention, storytelling, and turning passion into purpose.

📺 Watch the full episode on Inside Success TV:
Women in Power Episode

🌐 Websites:
The Artful Gourmet Blog | Food Styling + Photography Portfolio

🎙 Listen to The Artful Gourmet Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music & iHeartRadio.

📺 Watch the full episode on The Artful Gourmet YouTube Channel

✨ Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE with fellow creatives and entrepreneurs!

Key Takeaways

Building a successful creative brand from scratch
Transitioning from advertising into food media and entrepreneurship
The evolution of The Artful Gourmet brand
Food styling and photography as storytelling tools
Reinvention, resilience, and creative confidence
Expanding into podcasting, TV, and multimedia content creation

Timestamps / Chapters

00:00 – Intro + Welcome

01:12 – Meet Kristen Hess & The Artful Gourmet

03:40 – From Advertising to Entrepreneurship

07:18 – Discovering Food Styling & Photography

11:05 – Building a Multimedia Brand

15:42 – Podcasting, Storytelling & Creative Content

19:10 – Advice for Creatives & Entrepreneurs

22:30 – Women in Power Closing Thoughts

24:00 – Where to Follow & Watch More

“At the end of the day, if you’re excited about whatever it is you’re selling, people are going to buy from you because they like you and your enthusiasm.”

If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been diving deeper into storytelling across platforms—and it’s been such an exciting ride.

New episodes are live across all of my podcast series:

#UNFILTERED — real conversations with creators, tastemakers, and innovators

Into Focus — mindset, clarity, and building a creative life with intention

Groovy Eats — where food, music, and nostalgia come together in the most fun, retro-inspired way

Each one is a different lens… but all rooted in the same idea:

living creatively, boldly, and sharing that journey out loud.

✨ “The more I create, the more I realize—this isn’t just content, it’s a conversation.”

Coming Home

And maybe the biggest shift of all…

I’ve finally moved back to New York. I’ve been planning this move for quite a while now, and the process has been a brutal one (getting out of a lease, and moving out of a huge apartment/photo studio that I’ve been in for almost 5 years. (How, just HOW do we accumulate SO MUCH STUFF???)

For now, I’ll be staying in Upstate NY helping out family for a little while in Rochester… then I’ll be moving back to the NYC full swing later in the year and I can’t wait!

It feels like a full-circle moment—returning to my roots, my creative foundation, my people. The city where so much of this journey began.

There’s something about New York that sharpens your edge, expands your vision, and reminds you what you’re capable of.

✨ “Some places don’t just inspire you—they remind you who you are.”

I’m beyond excited to step back into that energy, reconnect with friends and family, and open the door to what’s next.

And speaking of Rochester, I wanted to share a link to my delicious Rochester-Style Famous Chicken French (Francaise) Recipe that landed me on the front page of the NY Times Food Section a few years ago when I was interviewed by Julia Moskin, Staff Food Writer for the story… The recipe and styling suggestions of mine were quite the hit! In fact, it was their #1 most popular recipe for ALL OF 2018. You have to try this, you guys, it’s absolutely amazing. And one of my proudest moments in my culinary career – EVER.

News + Events

Download my free resource guide “The Art of Food Photography”

I’ll be showing you my basic food styling tips and tricks, and an easy natural lighting setup you can do at home with just a few tools and a camera. The demo will be about an hour and a half, with Q+A the last half hour.

Don’t miss it!

New Episode of Groovy Eats coming soon!

Stay tuned for my next episode of Groovy Eats coming soon!

We’re going all the way back to 1978 – for Disco Night with Donna Summer, retro cocktails, a groovy playlist and a few late night bites from a famous Tiki bar, The Islander, on Restaurant Row in LA.

So get ready for lots of sparkle, fun retro eats and drinks, lights, groovy tunes and a #disco party waiting to happen…You guys, it’s going to be SO. MUCH. FUN.

🍽️ Follow Us for More

👉 Read more stories, essays and recipes on Substack

💌 Subscribe to my Kit community page and newsletter for seasonal recipes, creative inspiration, and behind-the-scenes from The Artful Gourmet

👉 Follow The Artful Gourmet blog for more stories + recipes

👉 View our food styling + photography packages – you can now book a photoshoot or food styling session with Kristen online!

Check out our Amazon Store and ShopMy store with our curated favs from fashion, beauty, cooking and baking items, books and cookbooks, photography gear and more. Plus many of the brands I partner with offer special discount codes for 10-45% off their items on my shop! I’ll be posting all the specials and goodies on my Instagram, Facebook and TikTok pages so keep an eye out for these!

That’s all for the news and updates for now, stay tuned for more later this month..and thanks so much for being here! Your readership and support means so much, and keeps me motivated to keep creating fun content for all of you!

If you enjoy what you’re reading and watching, feel free to share this post and our blog with your followers and friends too. Hopefully the show inspired you all to keep believing in yourself, in your dreams and to never, ever give up!

And if you’ve already watched my episode, tell me in the comments below:

What inspired you MOST from this episode of Women in Power with Kristen Hess?

🔘 Building a creative business from scratch
🔘 Food styling + photography insights
🔘 Reinventing your career path
🔘 Personal branding + storytelling
🔘 Expanding into podcasting + media
🔘 The overall entrepreneurial journey

Cheers until next time!

xo Kristen

The Artful Gourmet | Kristen Hess