Not weighed down by restaurant or retainer—a personal chef plans, arrives, cooks, and leaves. Chef Joshua Gatewood, Founder, Owner, and Chef at Nourishing Nomad, has found that it’s the perfect niche for him.
Photograph courtesy of Nourishing Nomad
Gatewood is a former Marine who used his GI Bill (veteran education benefits) to go to culinary school at the Art Institute of Seattle in 2009. Cooking was brand new to him, and he dove into gaining experience in Seattle kitchens at restaurants like Fresh Bistro, catering company Herban Feast, and renowned fine dining destination Lark. At Lark, he worked under Chef John Sundstrum, who led the kitchen with classical French technique, clarity of vision, and a calm strength.
“I would say it was the height of challenging myself and being around people who loved food, but also loved to create at a really high level,” says Gatewood. “John himself…he never raised his voice. It appealed to me because his standards were so high, you just trusted his vision…it was just a really good place to learn and adapt.”
Photograph courtesy of Nourishing Nomad
Since then, Gatewood has “weaved in and out” of the cooking industry. After the Pandemic, he spent three years living in and traveling between Washington and Florida, an experience that inspired the “Nomad” in his business name.
“Working 9-5’s, not for me,” he says. “I experienced it, I love those experiences. But I enjoy the freedom of being challenged to go work in different kitchens and with different clients. Getting to meet the clients, exploring their wants and needs and dislikes, and crafting a menu for them.”
Photograph courtesy of Nourishing Nomad
From his home base in Stanwood, Gatewood provides personal chef services to King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and Island Counties, traveling wherever the job requires. When you hire Nourishing Nomad, Gatewood will work with you to determine your menu, taking everything from the number of guests, their allergies, and your desired experience into account. He’ll shop for the ingredients and wine. He’ll arrive at your chosen venue in his Toyota Tacoma, loaded with a kit full of trays, pots, pans, parchment paper, cooking utensils, and anything else he might need. That prep is important when he could be cooking in anything from cabins on Mount Baker to AirBnbs on Orcas Island.
Photograph courtesy of Nourishing Nomad
Since he officially launched Nourishing Nomad in early 2025, Gatewood’s cooked close to two dozen dinners for clients. He’s been hired for parties, date nights, birthdays, and wedding festivities—you name it, it’s probably a great time to have a personal chef making you a delicious and customized meal. His glowing reviews on gig website Thumbtack highlight his culinary skill and his calm, personable demeanor. He’s even willing to slow down and teach you about whatever he’s cooking!
Gatewood’s oeuvre is in French, Mediterranean, and Italian cuisines, but after a recent internship at Growing Veterans, a nonprofit dedicated to “dirt therapy” via farmwork for veterans, he says he’s connecting with PNW culinary inspirations.
Photograph courtesy of Nourishing Nomad
“I was getting back in touch with the food side of things, and also what grows here, what’s meant to be cooked here. I’m still in a rediscovery process right now,” he says. “Even now there’s things that I’m trying to learn.”
Keep up with Gatewood’s nomadic kitchen adventures on his Instagram, @nourishing_nomad, and find him on thumbtack.com and nourishingnomad.com to look into hiring him for your next occasion. It’s a special touch you won’t regret! 425.754.3849, nourishingnomad.com
