Hidden Gems: Meet Tori Anderson of Wonderland Cuisine Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Anderson.

Hi Tori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story doesn’t start like most chef stories. I wasn’t the child standing in the kitchen learning family recipes from my grandmother. In fact, my mom cooked every day, and I had very little interest in cooking at all. I used to joke that I would grow up and have a personal chef because that’s what I was used to.

What I did love was curiosity. As a kid, I read everything I could get my hands on—cookbooks, encyclopedias, magazines—especially if there were pictures. I was fascinated by learning how things worked and why they worked. Looking back, that curiosity has been the thread running through my entire life.

I grew up in a family that loved gathering people together. My parents were always hosting friends, family, coworkers, and holiday celebrations. What stayed with me wasn’t necessarily the food—it was the feeling. The laughter, the conversations, the sense of connection, and the memories being created around a table.

Years later, when I went to culinary school, I thought I was learning how to run a restaurant. Instead, I discovered a creative world that felt like home. Food became a way to explore science, culture, nutrition, hospitality, storytelling, and human connection all at once. It gave me endless opportunities to ask “why” and endless opportunities to create.

Today, whether I’m cooking for a family, teaching, catering an event, or creating experiences through Wonderland, my work is still rooted in the same thing that drew me in from the beginning: curiosity and connection.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say my path has been a completely smooth road, but I’ve never been someone who views life through the lens of obstacles. I tend to look at challenges as opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow.

One thing that makes my journey a little different is that culinary was actually a career change for me. Before becoming a chef, I worked in sales and marketing and had extensive experience in hospitality environments. Through those experiences, I learned how to build relationships, communicate with different types of people, understand client needs, and create meaningful experiences. Those skills became incredibly valuable when I entered the culinary world.

Because of that background, getting clients and building rapport wasn’t necessarily the hardest part for me. I was fortunate to begin working with incredible clients early in my career, including private dinners and events while I was still in culinary school. Those opportunities helped me build confidence and showed me what was possible.

The bigger challenge has been building sustainable systems around the work. Cooking is often the easiest part. Learning how to build teams, create consistency, delegate effectively, and bring other people into your vision as the business grows is a completely different skill set. As a creative entrepreneur, I’ve had to learn how to trust others, develop processes, and create a business that can grow beyond my own hands.

I’ve also had to learn not to overthink my ideas. Curiosity has always been one of my greatest strengths, but it can also lead to wanting everything to be perfectly thought out before taking action. Over time, I’ve learned that growth comes from execution, not perfection.

Today, I’m less focused on simply being the person cooking every meal and more focused on creating experiences, building community, teaching, and curating meaningful moments around food. That’s the direction I’m growing toward, and it’s what excites me most about the future.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Wonderland is a culinary and hospitality brand, but at its heart, it’s about meeting people’s needs through food and shared experiences.

What sets me apart is that I don’t start with the menu—I start by listening. Food is the tool, but the real work is understanding what someone needs. One client may need nourishment and support during a busy season of life. Another may need help reaching health goals. Another may want to create more connection around the family table or bring a sense of luxury and ease into their home. My job is to listen for those needs and create an experience that supports them.

Through personal chef services, catering, culinary education, and curated gatherings, I use food as a way to bring people together, create memories, reduce stress, encourage wellness, and foster connection. The meals matter, but what matters most is how people feel before, during, and after the experience.

I have worked many amazing opportunities and experiences and have a very amazing clientele but what I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built over the years. Clients often tell me that the value I bring goes far beyond the food itself. To me, that’s the greatest compliment because it means I’ve accomplished what I set out to do: use food as a tool to care for people in a meaningful way.

At its core, Wonderland is rooted in curiosity, hospitality, creativity, and connection. As the brand continues to grow, my goal is to keep creating experiences that help people feel seen, cared for, and inspired.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is Christmas dinner at my parents’ house. Not because of any one gift or event, but because of the feeling of it all. The house would be full of family, laughter, music, and incredible food. In true New Orleans fashion, there was always a table full of favorites—gumbo, ham, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, and all the dishes everyone looked forward to each year.

What I remember most, though, is the atmosphere. The smell of the food mixed with the Christmas tree, the sound of people talking over one another, my aunts dancing in the kitchen, the kids running around, and my dad making sure everyone had what they needed. It felt warm, safe, and abundant.

Looking back, I realize those gatherings shaped a lot of who I am today. Food wasn’t just something we ate—it was how we celebrated, connected, and cared for one another. That’s a lesson that still influences my work and my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www..letsfeastinwonderland.com
• Instagram: @wonderlandcuisines
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18jiT9zckA/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: TikTok @chefwonderland