Today we’d like to introduce you to Lenore Nolan Ryan.
Hi Lenore , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I always say food found me long before I found my path. I grew up surrounded by the rhythm of the kitchen, with warmth, laughter, and the art of gathering. It all began in my mother’s kitchen. I’m standing on a chair at the stove, stirring the soup in a figure eight because that’s how she taught me to stir love into everything. Food became my first language, the way I expressed care, comfort, and creativity.
A weekend visit to San Francisco turned into a twenty-four-year chapter that changed my life. I opened Ryan’s Café in the heart of the Castro District, where I learned that food is a connection — it tells stories, heals hearts, and brings people together.
Returning home to Florida, I opened the Lenore Nolan Ryan Cooking School & Catering Company, now celebrating over twenty years. Today, through my upcoming book Love is the Main Ingredient, Cookbook, Memoir and Life Lesson, I’m still doing what I started as that little girl at the stove — stirring love into everything I create.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? I’d say yes, once you whisk out all the lumps. The truth is, every journey has its hurdles, but they’re part of the recipe. Life, like cooking, is trial and taste. You try something, it doesn’t work, so you add a little more of what’s needed: patience, courage, creativity, or faith. The joy, for me, is always in the process — stirring, tasting, tweaking, and sharing. Because just like a good meal, life isn’t about perfection. It’s about flavor, balance, and always remembering that love is the main ingredient.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a chef, teacher, and storyteller who believes food is love made visible. For more than two decades, my cooking school and catering company in Fort Lauderdale have been a place where people come not just to eat, but to connect, celebrate, learn, and feel nourished in every sense. I specialize in creating experiences that blend elegance with ease, making gourmet food approachable and enjoyable. My upcoming book, Love is the Main Ingredient, carries that same spirit: a collection of recipes, memories, and life lessons centered on the belief that food tells our stories.
What sets me apart is my heart. I don’t just cook meals, I create moments that feed the soul. Because when love is the main ingredient, every dish becomes a memory.
How do you define success?
Success, for me, is measured in joy, not numbers. It’s the smile after the first bite, the laughter in the kitchen, the shared memory over a meal. I define success as bringing happiness and nourishment to others and creating a space where food becomes a bridge, a common thread that connects us. When someone leaves my table feeling loved or inspired, I know I’ve done what I was meant to do. Because in the end, success isn’t about perfection. Success is about feeding both the heart and the soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LenoreNolanRyan.com
- Instagram: lenore_nolanryan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lenorenolanryan/ and www.facebook.com/groups/thesultrypalate
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenore-nolan-ryan-a2ab3656/
Image Credits
Three food photos Ben Think Photographer
