Meet Chef Rome

We recently connected with Chef Rome and have shared our conversation below.

Chef, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community as layoffs have been on the rise recently, and so we’d appreciate hearing your story and how you overcame being let go?

A layoff can take the wind out of you. When it happened to me, I had a moment where I could’ve felt embarrassed, defeated, or stuck. But instead, it forced me to look inward and ask, “What can I build for myself that no one can take away?”

Three days later, Rome’s Kitchen was born.

I didn’t have everything figured out. I didn’t have a perfect plan or fancy equipment. What I did have was faith, grit, a gift for cooking, graphic design skills, and a belief that I could turn my passion into purpose.

Being laid off didn’t break me, it pushed me into my lane. It made me take ownership of my talent, my future, and my story.

And now? That moment that was supposed to stop me became the very thing that elevated me. It gave me a business, a community, opportunities, partnerships, and a purpose that’s bigger than a job title.

So if anyone here has ever faced a setback, a job loss, a disappointment — remember this:
What feels like an ending is often the beginning of the thing you were truly meant to do.

I didn’t just overcome being laid off.
I transformed it into the reason I’m standing here today, serving you, giving back, and building something that reflects my heart.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

am Chef Rome, founder of Rome’s Kitchen ATL, a chef driven meal prep brand I created just three days after being laid off. What felt like a setback became the spark that pushed me to bet on myself and build something rooted in purpose, flavor, and care.

I make food that nourishes people from the inside out. High protein meals, diabetic and renal friendly dishes, plant based options, and chef crafted bowls that look as good as they taste. What makes Rome’s Kitchen special is the intention. Every meal feels personal, thoughtful, and created with the same attention you would expect from a fine dining plate.

The most exciting part of what I do is serving the community. This coming year, we are expanding meal prep offerings, launching Rome Cares for seniors with diabetes, partnering with residential communities for chef led tastings, and developing a weekly subscription meal box. It is all about making healthy eating accessible, beautiful, and full of flavor.

Rome’s Kitchen is proof that when one door closes, sometimes you are meant to build your own.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

When I look back, the three qualities that impacted my journey the most were resilience, creativity, and service. Each one kept me moving forward when life shifted in ways I did not expect.

Resilience was the first. Getting laid off could have stopped me, but instead it pushed me to build something of my own. Resilience taught me how to turn a hard moment into momentum. My advice to anyone starting out is to lean into challenges instead of running from them. Every test carries a seed of direction.

Creativity shaped the heart of Rome’s Kitchen. I had to think beyond a plate of food and see how nutrition, art, and storytelling could all live together in one brand. For people early in their journey, I encourage you to create freely. Explore ideas that feel bold. The things that make you different usually become your strongest strength.

Service is the quality that grounds everything I do. Feeding people is not just a business for me. It is connection, care, and community. It is knowing that your work makes someone’s day a little easier. If you are just beginning, focus on who you want to serve and why. When your purpose is bigger than profit, your work grows in the right direction.

These three qualities carried me from a layoff to a purpose driven business. And the beautiful part is that anyone can develop them. Start small, stay consistent, and trust that your gifts will lead you where you are meant to be.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, I am always open to partnering and collaborating with people who believe in community, wellness, and elevating everyday food experiences. Rome’s Kitchen grows best when it grows with others.

I am especially interested in working with fitness professionals, senior wellness advocates, residential communities, health focused brands, and anyone who wants to bring nutritious and chef crafted meals to the people they serve. I also welcome collaborations with creatives, photographers, content producers, and local businesses that want to build meaningful experiences around food and lifestyle.

If someone is reading this and feels aligned with the mission of Rome’s Kitchen, I would love to connect. They can reach me directly through Instagram at @romeskitchenatl or by email at [email protected]. I am always open to new ideas, shared vision, and partnerships that uplift the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.romeskitchenatl.com
• Instagram: Romeskitchenatl
• Facebook: Romes kitchen