We had the good fortune of connecting with Jazzmyne Buckels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jazzmyne, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
That’s always an interesting question for me. When people ask, I typically say I’m from Evanston, Illinois by way of Southern Louisiana, because I spent my childhood growing up between the North Chicago suburbs and different parts of Southern Louisiana. Both left a lasting impression on how I see food and family — especially in the kitchen.

I’ve been cooking since I was 12, but honestly, my love for it started long before that. Some of my earliest memories are being in the kitchen with my mom and my grandmothers — watching, learning, and tasting (raw cake batter was my favorite thing as a kid). On both sides of my family, all the women can cook. From my grandmothers to my mom and my aunts, cooking was always a big part of our family identity.

In our family, food is our love language. If someone was sick, we brought food. If something good happened, we celebrated with food. If we were grieving, we gathered and ate. That connection between food and care has always been there, and it’s shaped who I am as a person — and definitely as a cook.

Growing up with roots in both Illinois and Louisiana gave me a unique perspective, because both places have rich food cultures — bold, flavorful, and comforting in different ways. That blend of influence shaped my palate and my style in the kitchen. I pull from both when I cook, creating meals that feel like home, no matter where home is.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always cooked — for friends, for family, for whoever happened to be around — but I’m an engineer by training, and I spent years focused on building my career in that space. Somewhere along the way, Gourmet Mommie stopped being just a passion project and became a core part of who I am.

It actually started with my work lunches. I’d bring food to my engineering job, and people would stop and ask what I was eating because it didn’t look like “normal” food. That was always the case — even in college, I was known for cooking for friends and for my husband’s frat brothers. I still have people talk about a peach cobbler I made over 20 years ago.

The name Gourmet Mommie came from a friend who asked me to contribute to her newsletter. She’d dubbed herself Tech Mommy and looked at me and said, “Well, obviously, you’re Gourmet Mommy.” It started as a joke, but when I began building my social presence, it just fit. I’ve always loved cooking and feeding people — what changed was finally documenting it and sharing it with intention.

One of the hardest parts was figuring out how to teach something I’ve always done instinctively. I rarely measure or write things down. I just go in the kitchen, use what I have, and make it work. That practicality has always been a core part of how I cook — and learning to reverse engineer it for others is where my engineering brain came in. Whether I’m designing a medical device or developing a recipe, I’m solving problems and creating systems.

Another challenge has been building a brand where I’m not the face of it. I’m an introvert. You’ll usually just see my hands in videos. But I believe the food should be the focus. You don’t need to see me to understand who I am — because my food is me. Every dish tells a story. And that’s what I want people to connect with. My sister-in-law once said she could recognize my videos before even hearing my voice — because my visual style is that consistent. That meant everything to me.

Of course, just because I cook a lot doesn’t mean it’s always easy. I still work full-time as a biomedical engineer. I have a family. I cook almost every day, but filming, editing, and content creation — on top of writing a cookbook — is exhausting at times. Some days, the numbers are slow and it’s discouraging. But I’ve stayed consistent. I’ve learned not to wait until I feel “ready” to pursue what matters.

I’m proud of so many things — especially finally writing the cookbook I’ve dreamed of for years. It’s called A Touch of Jazz, and it really is just that — me speaking through food, one recipe at a time. Every dish has my spin on it, from reimagined classics to new creations. It includes basics, comfort food, practical weeknight meals, show-stopping desserts, and even heart-healthy and dietary-friendly options that still taste good. The goal isn’t just to share recipes — it’s to help people feel confident in their own kitchens. I want people to see that with the right preparation, they can cook like me — and bring a touch of that gourmet flair to whatever they’re making.

Some of my best videos came from moments when things didn’t go to plan — but I pivoted and made something new. That’s what cooking (and life) is. It’s not about perfection. It’s about creativity, preparation, and resilience.

More than anything, I’ve realized that food is my love language. This brand, this cookbook, these videos — they’re not just about cooking. They’re about connection. I want people to feel empowered to cook for their families or just for themselves. I want them to feel confident, prepared, and inspired — not intimidated. Just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean it’s out of reach.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from my story, it’s this: Don’t put yourself on the back burner. You still deserve something that’s just yours — something that brings you joy. This brand is about more than food. It’s about choosing yourself and serving others with that joy at the same time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my best friend comes to visit, we don’t usually run around chasing every restaurant or attraction — most of the time, we hang out at the house and I cook. Honestly, most of my friends and family would rather eat my food than go out, so when they’re here, I usually spend a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking meals and enjoying slow mornings or poolside evenings. We’ve talked about planning a birthday trip together since our birthdays are a week apart — ideally when it’s still warm enough to enjoy hanging out in the backyard by the pool.

That said, there are a few places I like to take people when they visit. If we’re going out to eat, we’re definitely grabbing Tex-Mex — this area is known for it. Blue Goose is my go-to spot, especially for out-of-town guests. It’s casual, flavorful, and just feels like Texas.

For dessert, I’m not a huge sweets person, but I make an exception for Cookie Society — a local, family-owned cookie shop that makes some of the best cookies I’ve ever had. Another surprising favorite? HEB. Yes, the grocery store. But if you’ve ever been, you get it — it’s like a grocery store on steroids, and my guests always love it. My mom could walk the aisles for hours.

If I’m in the mood to get out and explore a little, I love walking through local farmers markets — especially the Frisco Farmers Market or the one in Downtown Grapevine. Grapevine in general is a great spot to walk around, shop, or visit one of their chocolate shops. One of my favorites is a little place called The Chocolate Hangover, which has amazing homemade truffles (even though I’m not a big chocolate person) and a super sweet owner. It’s one of those places that feels like a hidden gem — I’ve even brought back chocolate truffles shaped like Texas for company guests before.

If we’re out for a treat, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is hands down my favorite. I first tried it in California and was thrilled to find out we have one here in Dallas too. Their flavors are rich, nostalgic, and totally worth the stop.

For a night out, The Star in Frisco is a solid pick. It has great energy, especially if you want to hang out, grab a bite, and maybe catch a game or live music. Sidecar Social is a fun, chill spot in that area that works whether you’re with your best friend or hosting out-of-town coworkers.

As much as I love sharing food, I’ve also realized how much I value downtime — so if we need a little peace, we skip the Dallas Arboretum and head to the Grapevine Botanical Gardens instead. It’s quieter, more intimate, and honestly just more my speed.

At the end of the day, my version of a good time isn’t packed with itineraries — it’s about good food, meaningful conversations, and time to unwind. Whether we’re poolside with something homemade or walking through a market together, the best moments are usually the simple ones.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I had to dedicate this moment to anyone, it would be to the women in my family — my mom, my grandmothers, my sisters, and my aunts — who have shaped so much of who I am, both as a person and as a cook. Every chapter of my cookbook is dedicated to one of them for a reason. They’ve given me the foundation, the inspiration, and the flavor behind everything I do in the kitchen.

I also have to shout out my husband and kids — the forever guinea pigs of my kitchen. Whether it’s a brand-new recipe or the third round of testing the same one, they show up with love (and appetite), and I couldn’t do this without them.

And lastly, to my circle of friends and family — my “consultants” — thank you for being the loudest cheerleaders, the most honest taste-testers, and the ones who’ve pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and actually share this passion. You know who you are, and I hope you know how grateful I am.

Website: https://linktr.ee/GourmetMommie

Instagram: @gourmetmommie

Other: Tiktok: @gourmetmommie

Image Credits
Nkechi Chibueze (me and my daughter)

Jazzmyne Buckels (all other images)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.