KELLY
POCHYBA

We are really excited to have Kelly as our first chef in residence for 2023.

We’ve been watching Kelly’s food journey for a few years now so when we caught wind that she would be back in Aotearoa over the summer we jumped at the chance to work with her. Like us, Kelly wears many hats and although we always look for cooks who can whip up a delicious feast we also look for people who feel aligned with us, the way we live our lives and the Roses ethos.

Kelly has always had a huge interest in food. From ingredients and the history of recipes to what people eat when they’re cooking for themselves. Kelly loves nothing more than looking at photos people post of the meals they eat - be it extravagant dinners or 3am burgers and chips. There isn’t an aspect of what people choose to eat that she doesn’t find interesting.

In 2016 she nosedived into expanding her knowledge and understanding of food. She had just moved from Auckland to London and after a few big life events that really gave her a knock she found that during this time the only thing that didn't interrupt her productivity or emotions was cooking.

Kelly has always been a methodical person in every aspect of her life - both personal and professional. She loves creating and actioning new processes and she loves to organise. It took her some time to realise that cooking was the perfect marriage of all her favourite things.

Cooking has never been her job, per say, but it's been the one constant in her life for the past 7 years. She cooks every day and documents nearly every meal she cooks. Sometimes that documentation takes the form of a photo, other times it’s a quick scribble in a note pad and often it’s some furiously written type into the notes app on her phone.

Along her food journey, she’s always had people watching and asking what it is she is cooking, where they find her recipes, or where they should eat. That sharing part of cooking and food, is something she thrives on. Over the last couple of years, she’s been operating on double speed, although she wouldn't have it any other way. From hosting charity dinners and supper clubs in London to self-publishing her own cookbook with her best friend and co-author Betsy Greaves. The book sold out in only a few weeks and the duo have plans for a second edition in the pipeline.

Kelly knows there is no better feeling than finding the special thing that you want to do, that you really love and that makes people feel good. 

Kelly loves simple food made with good ingredients. Whilst she loves watching and reading about food, she cooks with intuition and in abundance, just like her family has always done for her. She feels there is nothing more beautiful than showing people how you feel about them through a plate of food. Like many of us, she is happiest when feeding her friends and family or sitting in the sun enjoying a meal herself. 

Parrot Tulips are Kelly’s favourite flower.