About

Kelly Senyei, a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, founder of Just a Taste and mother of four.

Welcome!

I’ve spent the past 16 years making it my mission for you to get easy, but impressive meals on your table, because as a mom of four little ones, I know the importance of making every minute (and every dollar) count!

About Kelly Senyei

Founder of Just a Taste

I am a professionally trained chef, TV host (check out my sizzle reel below or on YouTube), cookbook author and entrepreneur who develops all of the recipes, styles all of the food, takes all of the photos and washes all of the dishes for the countless creations coming out of my kitchen.

I received my undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, my master’s degree in broadcast television from The Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and my culinary arts diploma with highest honors from The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. I completed my apprenticeship in the Food Network Kitchens and previously worked at Condé Nast as an editor and on-air talent at Gourmet and Epicurious. 

My husband and I live in San Diego, California with our four young children.

Kelly Senyei Sizzle Reel – Chef, TV Host & Author

Kelly Senyei is the Founder of Just a Taste, a food site frequented by millions of people each month. She is also a professionally trained chef, TV host and author of The Secret Ingredient Cookbook. Kelly appears regularly as a host on the Food Network Kitchen app, as well as on Rachael Ray, E!, Hallmark Channel and more.

About Just A Taste

How it all began…

Why “Just a Taste?” I have my great-grandmother, Momoo, to thank as my first inspiration in the kitchen. She always reminded me to have just a taste of dessert after every meal.

My grandmother and mom continued the tradition by passing down their passions for all things culinary, ensuring I had a spatula in my hand at a very young age.

I’ve never believed in diets but instead enjoy everything in moderation, and hence, Just a Taste was born!

What started as a way to catalog my family’s recipe history has since turned into an online destination visited by millions of people a month who cook and share Just a Taste recipes from their kitchens around the world. 

Kelly Senyei holding a copy of The Secret Ingredient Cookbook

decades in the making

The Evolution of Just a Taste

  • 2008: Kelly graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Business and launched Just a Taste
  • 2009: Kelly graduated from The Columbia Journalism School with a master’s degree in Broadcast Television
  • 2010: Kelly graduated from The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City with a Culinary Arts diploma with Highest Honors; while in culinary school, Kelly launched ICE’s first-ever blog and social media platforms chronicling her life as a culinary student
  • 2010: Kelly completed her apprenticeship in the Food Network Kitchen
  • 2010 to 2013: Kelly worked as an online editor and on-air talent at Gourmet Live (the digital spinoff of Gourmet magazine) and Epicurious
  • 2012: Kelly published her first book, Food Blogging For Dummies (Wiley Publishing, 2012)
  • 2019 to 2022: Kelly taught more than 75 classes on Food Network’s app (Food Network Kitchen)
  • 2021: Kelly published her second book, The Secret Ingredient Cookbook (Houghton Mifflin/Harper Collins, 2021)
  • 2025: Kelly appeared on her fourth Woman’s World magazine cover as an expert in all things food and entertaining

FEATURED PRESS

On screen, online and in print

Kelly Senyei on the October cover of Woman's World magazine
Kelly Senyei on the cover of Woman's World April 2024 magazine.
Kelly Senyei on the cover of the February 2025 issue of Woman's World Magazine.