Here at Scripting Life, we celebrate human potential and highlight diverse life journeys.

In this series, we showcase stories of people who have designed lives outside of mainstream expectations.

Are you skeptical about making a living from your interests?

After reading this, you might have the courage to do so and strengthen your belief in doing what you are excited about. 

Welcome to our deep dive into the rise of Alison Roman—chef, bestselling author, and the internet’s queen of unfussy home cooking.

Alison Roman’s passion for food, her willingness to experiment with new formats, and her commitment to serving home cooks have made her a culinary icon.

We’ll explore her journey from restaurant kitchens to viral recipes, her unique personality, and how she’s built a brand that feels both aspirational and accessible.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about her meteoric rise, this post will give you a fresh perspective on what makes Alison Roman so influential.

An ever-evolving person

Alison Roman is more than just a chef—she’s a food writer, internet personality, and the creative force behind viral recipes like #TheCookies, #TheStew, and #ThePasta.

Her approachable, flavour-forward style has inspired millions to get back into the kitchen, especially during times when home cooking became a lifeline for many.

Early Ambitions and Restaurant Roots

Alison Roman grew up in Los Angeles and started cooking professionally at 19, leaving college to pursue her culinary dreams.

She worked in acclaimed restaurants like Sona in LA and Quince in San Francisco, and later helped launch Milk Bar in New York as a sous chef.

After seven years in the restaurant world, Roman realized her true passion wasn’t just cooking for guests—it was teaching people how to cook for themselves.

“Your experience with the guest ends when they walk out of the restaurant. They don’t learn anything from eating your food; they don’t become a better cook from it. My favorite part of the job was when I would have new cooks come in, and I would get to teach them.”

This desire to connect and empower home cooks set the stage for her next big move.

From Test Kitchen to Viral Sensation

Roman’s transition from restaurant chef to food media began at Bon Appétit, where she started as a freelance recipe tester and quickly rose to senior food editor.

Here, she honed her skills in recipe development, focusing on making dishes that were bold, simple, and achievable for home cooks.

Her approachable style and charismatic presence made her a standout in Bon Appétit’s videos and articles.

In 2015, she moved to Buzzfeed Food, and soon after, published her first cookbook, Dining In (2017). The book’s Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread—known simply as #TheCookies—became a viral hit, cementing her reputation as a recipe developer who truly understood what home cooks wanted.

The New York Times, Nothing Fancy, and Going Viral

Roman’s next chapter began with her column at New York Times Cooking, where she brought her signature voice and unfussy recipes to a massive audience.

Her second cookbook, Nothing Fancy (2019), was a commercial and critical success, emphasizing authenticity and the joy of casual entertaining. Recipes like #TheStew and #ThePasta went viral, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people craved comforting, pantry-friendly meals.

Her writing style—personal, candid, and often humorous—helped readers feel like they were cooking alongside a friend, not a distant expert.

Roman’s willingness to share her own kitchen mishaps and strong opinions (anchovies are essential, one-use kitchen tools are not) made her even more relatable.

Reinvention, New Formats, and Staying True

Roman’s career has been defined by her willingness to try new things and adapt. She’s launched a popular YouTube series, “Home Movies,” where her unfiltered personality and love for teaching shine through. She’s also written a newsletter, started a podcast, and even opened a brick-and-mortar grocery store, First Bloom, in upstate New York.

Despite her success, Roman has always stayed true to her mission: making home cooking accessible, fun, and rewarding. She’s not afraid to break her own rules on camera, embrace mistakes, and encourage experimentation.

Her recipes are designed to be made in real kitchens, by real people, with whatever ingredients they have on hand.

“Do I want people to know what a badass cook I am and what skills I possess? Or do I want people to feed themselves?”

Roman always chooses the latter.

Aspirational, Accessible Alison Roman

Alison Roman’s rise to success is a testament to the power of following your interests, embracing new formats, and staying true to your audience.

She’s built a brand that’s both aspirational and accessible, inspiring a new generation of home cooks to find joy in the kitchen.

Her story reminds us that success isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about serving your community, being authentic, and never being afraid to try something new.

Happy Cooking!

You can watch this in a video format here.