Welcome to my table.
I’m Colleen Nowacki, private chef and creator of WholeWareness. I believe food is more than a meal—it’s connection, nourishment, and an experience meant to be shared.
From intimate dinners and family gatherings to weddings and retreats, I create seasonal, farm-to-table experiences thoughtfully curated around you, your guests, and the moment.
No standard menus. No cookie-cutter experiences. Just intentional food, thoughtfully prepared for your table.
Serving all of Michigan and select destinations
Weddings · Retreats · Private dinners · Celebrations · Holiday parties · Family gatherings
Where the name comes from
WholeWareness is the awareness of the whole—mind, body, soul, and spirit.
Wellness is more than what’s on your plate. It’s an awareness of how we think, how we nourish and move our bodies, how we care for our soul, and how we nurture our spirit. WholeWareness is about bringing all four into alignment and living with greater intention.
Mind
What we think matters. Cultivating awareness of our thoughts, beliefs, and patterns allows us to grow, learn, and live more intentionally.
Body
Our bodies deserve to be nourished and cared for. Whole foods, movement, rest, and mindful choices are all part of honoring the body God has given us. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are His temple, giving deeper purpose to how we nourish, strengthen, and care for them.
“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you… therefore glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV) Soul
The soul is where we experience connection, emotion, creativity, joy, and the things that make us uniquely who we are. Nourishing the soul is just as important as nourishing the body.
Spirit
Our spirit is the deepest part of who we are—our connection to God, our purpose, and the faith that grounds and guides our lives.
The woman behind the apron
Food has always been so much more than what’s on the plate for me. It’s culture, creativity, connection, hospitality, and memories made around a table. My travels have inspired the flavors I love, the experiences I create, and the way I approach food: with curiosity, intention, and a whole lot of heart.
Some of my earliest memories are rooted in my grandfather’s garden, where he grew his own food and unknowingly planted seeds in me that would influence my life years later. From the garden with my grandfather to the kitchen with my grandmother, who loved cooking, baking, and preparing meals for her family, I grew up surrounded by a love for food. My mother carried on that tradition, filling our home with home-cooked meals and teaching me that food is so much more than nourishment. It’s an expression of love, a way of bringing people together, and a legacy passed from one generation to the next.
Whether I’m creating a farm-to-table retreat menu, discovering a tiny café somewhere new, building a brand from an idea, or making something special for my family, I believe life is meant to be tasted, explored, created, and shared.
Private chef
Farm-to-table, seasonal menus curated around each client, from retreats to weddings to private dinners.
Foodie
Discovering a tiny café somewhere new.
World traveler
My travels have inspired the flavors I love and the way I approach food.
Brand creator
Building a brand from an idea.
Nonna
Perhaps my favorite title of all. Nonna to the world’s most amazing little boy.
If you’re new here, welcome to my table. Come hungry.
Rooted in the seasons
My approach to food is rooted in the rhythms of nature and the wisdom of our ancestors, who nourished their bodies by eating what each season provided.
I embrace this ancestral way of living by sourcing local, organic, and seasonal ingredients, building relationships with farmers and growers, and allowing nature’s harvest to inspire what I create.
Eating with the seasons is more than a culinary choice. It’s a return to our roots, a connection to the land, and a way of honoring the nourishment God intended for us.
Spring
March – May · Renewal & fresh beginnings
Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Lettuce and spring greens
- Green onions
- Peas (late spring)
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Morel mushrooms (wild-foraged)
Fruits
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries (late May into June)
Curated for you. There’s no set menu.
WholeWareness does not offer a standard menu. I work directly with each client to thoughtfully create a menu together—one that reflects your gathering, your guests, personal preferences, dietary considerations, and the season.
You bring your vision and preferences, and I bring my culinary expertise and recommendations. Together, we create a personalized dining experience that is uniquely yours.
Share a few details about your gathering below, and we’ll begin creating together.
What's the occasion?
What time of year?
How many guests?
The energy of food
There’s intention behind food—from the person who grows it, to the person who prepares it, to the person who receives it.
I believe the energy we carry while preparing food becomes part of what we create. When I cook from a place of love, joy, gratitude, and positive intention, I believe that energy is transferred through the food and ultimately received by the person consuming it.
For me, preparing a meal is more than combining ingredients. It is an energetic exchange between the person preparing the food and the person receiving it. That’s why I’m intentional about the energy I bring into my kitchen and to every table I serve.
“Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present…”
Intention
The energy behind a meal begins before the first ingredient is prepared.
Energy
What we bring into the preparation—our attitude, presence, and intention—I believe becomes part of the food we serve.
Gratitude
I prepare from a place of gratitude and invite those at my table to receive their nourishment with gratitude.
Nourishment
Food nourishes the body, but the experience surrounding it can reach much deeper—nourishing mind, body, soul, and spirit.
Gather around the table
Food creates connection. Retreats, weddings, private dinners, celebrations and family gatherings aren’t simply about eating. They’re about people gathering, sharing, slowing down and creating memories.
- Weddings
- Retreats
- Private dinners
- Celebrations
- Holiday parties
- Family gatherings
Your table should be as unique as the people gathered around it.
Tell me about your event
Every gathering begins with a conversation.
Share a few details about your event, guests, and vision. From intimate dinners and family gatherings to weddings and retreats, each experience is thoughtfully curated around you.
WholeWareness serves all of Michigan and select out-of-state destinations. Events requiring extended travel begin with a Discovery Call to discuss details, travel, and accommodations.
I look forward to welcoming you to my table.