Erica Tuggle founded Cookonnect to bring professional chefs into your home, preparing affordable, healthy meals right in your kitchen. By Marie Muir
Erica Tuggle knows firsthand the challenges of balancing a demanding career with a healthy family lifestyle. After growing up in Connecticut and earning degrees from NYU and Harvard in marketing and business, Erica’s career took her from General Mills in Minnesota to a dream job with Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. However, the reality of work and travel left her missing the homemade family dinners she cherished from her own childhood.
A love of food was ingrained in Erica from a young age. Her mother was a from-scratch cook, and Erica’s most valued possession is a cookbook filled with handwritten recipes from her mother, grandmother, and other relatives. Family food traditions made it even harder for Erica to accept the compromises of a busy career.
During the pandemic, Erica decided to pursue a new chapter. She left Coca-Cola and began researching the needs of busy families like hers, realizing that many were struggling to maintain healthy home cooked meals. In 2022 Erica launched Cookonnect, starting with a simple website and some Google forms. She even took on the role of the first Cookonnect chef.
Cookonnect matches families with private chefs who come into their homes to prepare affordable, healthy, and delicious meals. The menu offers a variety of options, with prices competitive with popular food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Cookonnect subscribers can customize their meals and schedules, and even request their favorite chef. The menu changes monthly, offering fresh, seasonal dishes. Some fan favorites include Tuscan salmon, turkey meatballs with spaghetti and roasted zucchini, balsamic marinated flank steak with rice pilaf and honey roasted carrots.
Cookonnect chefs are vetted professionals who undergo a rigorous review process. They handle everything from grocery shopping to cooking and cleanup, spending an average of 2-5 hours in the client’s home. The food is prepared in the customer’s kitchen, with ingredients purchased by the chef at local grocery stores.
For Erica, using Cookonnect herself has been invaluable. Living in Atlanta’s Memorial Park neighborhood with her husband Nathan, their two children, Jordan, 9, and Aria, 6, and their 12-year old Beagle Jackson, most of the family’s weeks are a whirlwind. Cookonnect has allowed Erica’s family to reclaim precious time together, whether it’s enjoying a leisurely Sunday walk or simply sitting down to a wholesome family dinner.
Cookonnect serves families within a 38-mile radius of Atlanta. For those looking to bring more balance, health, and joy into their homes, Cookonnect might be the answer. As a special offer for East Cobber readers, you can receive $30 off your first meal service with Cookonnect by using the code ECOBB30 at checkout. This offer is for new households only, cannot be combined with any other offers or Trial Meals, and expires on 9/30/24 at 11:59pm. Visit cookonnect.com to learn more.
