The Artful Gourmet

Kristen Hess is a content creator, food stylist, photographer, and culinary media personality who brings together food, storytelling, and culture through her multi-platform brand The Artful Gourmet. With a background in advertising, visual design, and culinary media, Kristen has built a career around creating visually stunning food photography and content and compelling culinary storytelling. Through her blog, podcast, and YouTube channel, she shares recipes, restaurant discoveries, travel inspiration, and creative insights that celebrate the art of living—and eating—well. Kristen is also the creator and host of the retro-inspired cooking show Groovy Eats, a nostalgic culinary series that blends food, music, fashion, and pop culture from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Each episode takes viewers on a flavorful journey through iconic dishes, hit songs, and cultural moments from these decades, bringing retro recipes back to life with a fun modern twist. Through The Artful Gourmet, Kristen produces original multimedia content including food styling, photography, recipe development, video production, podcast interviews, and editorial storytelling. Her work explores the intersection of food, travel, culture, music, and lifestyle—inviting audiences to rediscover the joy of cooking and gathering around the table.