Chef Kaori Stuessy is passionate about sharing her Japanese roots through food.
Her cooking weaves together flavors inspired by her travels with the abundance of Nevada County, thoughtfully incorporating organic ingredients from local farmers, ranchers and fish mongers to support a healthy, seasonal lifestyle.
A staple at Nevada City Farmers Market since 2014, Chef Kaori has cultivated strong, long lasting relationships with local producers. That connection to the land and community is reflected in every dish-honest, vibrant, and deeply nourishing.
Through Hachidori, Chef Kaori specializes in catering retreats and weddings, offering personal chef services, and holding custom, hands-on cooking classes. Each experience is designed to celebrate food as a meaningful connection between culture, community, and mindful living.
"The Hachidori pop-up I attended was a wonderful meal, and a truly special evening. Chef Kaori has a great sense for food and fusion, combining classic and novel flavors in truly delightful and surprising ways. The menu was thoughtfully designed and inclusive for a wide variety of dietary needs. Perhaps most importantly, it all tasted incredible. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who finds themselves in the Nevada City area.”
- Ian H.
Kaori and her wonderful staff catered our wedding reception. The food was wonderful. We had many people tell us how delicious it was and heard from several people that it was the 'best wedding food I’ve ever had.’ Kaori was easy to work with from start to finish. On the day of the wedding, she and her staff worked hard for us to make everything flow smoothly and contributed hugely to it being a glowing, momentous and very happy celebratory occasion. We appreciated that she sourced locally, and provided us with delicious organic options that weren’t centered around meat. Wedding planning was stressful but never with Kaori. She delivered in every way. We can’t thank her enough!
-Lynne, W
I've had the absolute pleasure of having Kaori cook for my yoga and ayurveda retreat each year. She is an integral part of what makes the experience so special for guests. Her culinary creations are deeply nourishing, delicious and artful. You can tell that she pours her heart into feeding others and her presence is warm, welcoming and a joy to be around. You will not be disappointed!
-Gaby, C
We had Karoi over last night for my son’s birthday. My son’s friends came over. She taught us how to make sukiyaki. What a wonderful evening! Everyone had a lot of fun. It was great to help a little with the preparation and to learn how to make a healthy, flavorful dish. No stress for us— she prepared everything and even cleaned up. Very relaxing, interactive. Everyone loved it.
-Sergio, N