Food has always been a key element in Chef Jennifer Kuntz's life, although it took her almost 30 years to realize it. She grew up in southern Louisiana, where food is a way of life, heavily influenced by the Cajun and Creole cultures. It wasn’t until she moved further and further away from Louisiana that she realized that this passion for food was extraordinary. By 2005, that passion had taken over.

Chef Jennifer Kuntz recalls her mother cooking dinner every single night, with barely a box or can in sight. She remembers her paternal grandmother and aunts all busy in the kitchen at family gatherings. She remembers the distinct scents of her maternal grandmother's home, infused by her signature spaghetti or gumbo. "When this is what you remember about your childhood, of course your heart is leading you to cooking!" she laughs. Yet it didn’t lead her there right away.

Chef Jennifer currently lives in Dickinson, ND, a far cry from southern Louisiana. She spent over 6 years in the military, followed by a half-year sabbatical, followed by a stint in the corporate world; all the while, she continued to seek out new culinary adventures. Since she traveled all over the U.S. with the military, she used the opportunity to experience regional cuisines. Even at her desk job in the corporate world, she was constantly bringing food in for the office, experimenting with new recipes and introducing her favorites to her friends. Then, in August of 2005 she found Personal Chefs Network and by December, The Dinner Belle Personal Chef Service was open for business.

"Everything clicked. It made sense. I wasn't ready for a restaurant, yet I wanted others to eat around the family table with dinner made from scratch the way I did! Becoming a Personal Chef was brilliant!" she says. But as brilliant as the idea was, the business didn't take off right away. It was daunting, she recalls, to open your own business and then wait, day after day, for a client to call. She had no marketing or sales experience whatsoever and was beginning to wonder if she could beg for her old job when the calls started coming in. "I credit Personal Chefs Network for having a forum and training on marketing as a Personal Chef. All I wanted to do was cook, but I had no idea how to get out there and get clients. Everyone would tell me that it was a great idea, but that was where the conversation ended. Fortunately, I just kept at it, and then the doors started opening. Soon, every time I cooked for one client, their guests would love my food and it would lead to another opportunity." The pieces were finally coming together, and then she got a call that would lead to her 15 minutes of fame. Clear Channel Radio called her to offer her a live cooking show opportunity. "For some reason, I actually second-guessed it at first, trying to decide whether or not it was a good idea!" she laughs. It was a nerve-wracking experience, but in the end, Chef Jennifer Kuntz was absolutely thrilled with the event. "I am still approached by people who attended that event, and guess what? They went home and actually made my recipes and still rave about it! What an honor."

In the fall of 2006, Chef Jennifer joined the team at Double JJ Outfitters and Bed and Breakfast. There, she prepares family style breakfast and dinner for guests during the hunting season. She also provides breakfast and offers upgrade packages for private dinners during the rest of the year. "The view from my kitchen there is just gorgeous, and the clients, especially the hunters, are phenomenal!" she raves. "It's so idyllic to prepare nourishing, hearty, savory meals in such a setting."

Today, Chef Jennifer Kuntz finds her schedule full of dinner parties, book club dinners, business dinners, anniversaries, cooking classes, and more celebrations. "I think one of the most amazing benefits of this career is that I get to see humanity at its best. I get to be a part of baptisms, anniversaries, graduations, and girls' night in. I work behind the scenes so everyone gets to relax and enjoy themselves. By the end of the night, I've had so much fun and seen such love and joy and laughter. I get little peeks into these momentous occasions, and it's so rewarding to be able to add to that."

What's next for Chef Jennifer? "Who knows? I never imagined this would be possible, and I have had so many breathtaking opportunities, I can't imagine what doors will open up next. I look forward to running my own restaurant, where you can be sure gumbo will be on the menu! I look forward to traveling to Italy and eating my way through the country. I have thought of writing my own cookbook, I just can't seem to get recipes out of my head and on to paper. I really can't wait to see what's next!"

Visit Chef Jennifer online at www.DakotaDinnerBelle.com or call her at (701) 225-7890. She serves Dickinson and Stark County, ND.