For our Healing Hands series, we sit down with people whose craft is shaped by care, ritual, and the work of their hands. This month, we spoke with chef and writer Alexis deBoschnek, whose kitchen and life in the Catskills are rooted in seasonality, stewardship, and connection.
How do you warm up your hands (or mind) before working on your craft?
Before cooking, Alexis begins with the simplest ritual: washing her hands. “For my mind,” she says, “I try to avoid distractions so that I can be fully present to the process of cooking.” In her work, presence is everything—the meal only begins when her hands and her attention are both ready.
Who or what do you hold close?
“My loved ones, my animals, and this beautiful land I get to be the steward of,” Alexis shares. Her life and work are deeply tied to the Catskills, where the rhythms of the seasons dictate not only her ingredients but also her sense of home.
What’s one thing you’d let go of if you could?
Like many of us, Alexis admits that social media can be difficult. “The compare-and-despair game is almost impossible to avoid. While I'm mostly good at tuning out the noise, I wish I could compare myself to my peers less.” Her honesty is a reminder that even those who inspire us struggle with the same modern distractions.
What’s one callus or scar that tells a story about your work?
Years in the kitchen leave marks—literally. Alexis describes her “hands and forearms lined with scars from getting burned with hot pans.” While each burn once came with frustration, over time they’ve transformed into something more. “At this point I see them as a point of pride—they literally show the years I've spent in the kitchen.”
What role does rest play in your creative process?
Living in the Catskills means being guided by the seasons. “Not just in terms of what I cook, but also when I rest. At the end of summer, I start to look forward to the weather changing and the inevitable rest that winter brings. Those quiet months allow me to think about the big picture in a way that I don't have time for in summer.” For Alexis, winter isn’t a pause but a recalibration.
What’s a ritual that helps keep you grounded?
Her grounding practice is both simple and profound: “I make it a point to leave my phone and walk up the hill to a clearing in the woods that looks over the Catskill mountains. It always gives me a sense of calm and feeling of perspective.”
What do you hope your work passes on to others?
“I want to inspire people to get in the kitchen—and empower them with the tools and confidence that they can make nourishing and delicious food on their own.” It’s a vision of cooking not as performance, but as daily nourishment and agency.
Check our her latest book here
✨ Healing Hands is about honoring the marks, rituals, and stories of those who use their hands to shape meaningful work. Alexis’s reflections remind us that every scar, every season of rest, every quiet ritual adds up to a life crafted with intention.