ConsciousEating is the product of the joint effort of our editorial team, a group of seasoned experts who have come together through their passion for good food and helping others navigate the cooking world.
Every recipe we publish is developed, tested, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy, flavor, and success in your kitchen.
The core of our rock star team includes:
Michael Cook
Founder, Culinary Expert & Cooking Mentor
Michael didn’t learn to cook from a textbook. He learned it from his grandmother, and he’s been chasing that same feeling of a perfect meal ever since. That kind of foundation, rooted in real kitchens and real people, shapes everything he brings to ConsciousEating.
As the founder of ConsciousEating, he has spent years building a resource grounded in genuine experience, not trends or shortcuts. He knows what it’s like to cook after a long day, to search for a last-minute ingredient substitution, or to wonder if a dish can still be saved.
That real-world perspective is baked into every recipe and cooking guide published here, and it’s what separates ConsciousEating from sites that treat cooking like a performance.
Michael believes cooking should be something you look forward to, not something you dread, and that belief drives every editorial decision he makes. His goal is to cut through the overwhelm and teach home chefs that great cooking is completely within reach.
Learn more about Michael and what a grandmother’s kitchen has to do with everything you’ll find here!
Andrew Carter
Co-Founder and Professional Chef
Andrew Carter trained at the Culinary Institute of America and spent years cooking in high-end restaurants and elite catering kitchens before launching his own personal chef business in 2004.
He has cooked professionally at every level, from five-star establishments to intimate dinner parties in people’s homes, and that range is exactly what makes his contributions to this site so valuable.
When Andrew explains a technique or walks you through a recipe, you are getting genuine professional expertise translated for the home kitchen.
Learn more about Andrew and the culinary career he brings to every recipe and guide on this site.
Melanie Johnson
Recipes Expert
Melanie’s experience and expertise in the culinary world is truly impressive.
Her years of working as a chef in high-end restaurants have provided her with a deep understanding of the finer points of cooking, and she has honed her skills to perfection.
Her ability to work with a wide variety of ingredients and her creative approach to recipe development have made her a sought-after chef in the industry.
As a graduate of a prestigious culinary school, Melanie also has a strong foundation in the fundamentals of cooking, as well as a passion for teaching others. She uses her culinary school foundation to develop creative and technically sound recipes for ConsciousEating.
Her focus is on teaching others the finer points of working with diverse ingredients.
Sarah Johnson
Contributing editor
Sarah has worked as a chef for over 10 years and has collaborated with several websites and publications as a ghostwriter. After graduating from culinary school, she has always worked as a chef in high-end restaurants and has taught cooking classes across the country.
After setting down in California, Sarah started her own catering business and has been writing for ConsciousEating since its beginnings, bringing her years of experience to the table when it comes to ingredients, recipes, and culinary advice.
Lucas Graham
Contributing editor
With a Bachelor of Engineering and a good eye for technology, Lucas is the go-to man for product reviews. He likes to call himself a ‘tech freak’ and if you ask him anything about whatever tech-trend is on these days, he will likely go on for hours.
Apart from his passion for technology, Lucas has worked in an appliance store for many years and is also an over-enthusiastic foodie. He considers his job at ConsciousEating a ‘dream come true’ because it allows him to explore the two things he loves the most in the world: technology and food.
If you wish to know more about ConsciousEating or about our editorial process, feel free to check our About Us page and our Editorial Guidelines.
