home cooked japanese meals for those you call family.

about watanabe kitchen

Hi! I’m Niki of Watanabe Kitchen—a Denver-based small business specializing in postpartum meals and catering. Drawing from my bicultural background, I alchemize my love through cooking and am particularly passionate about how food plays a role in storytelling and cultural preservation. 

I’ve had the privilege of sharing precious moments with my grandmother and mother in the kitchen—memorizing their hand movements and sneaking tastes of their umami-packed dishes, just as previous generations did. I leverage local produce and family recipes to challenge narrow mindsets around health and wellness. Rather than viewing food simply as sustenance, I believe in the power of communal dining and connecting people through the comforting, nourishing flavors of Japanese cuisine. 

Postpartum meals, get-well-soon meals, or “major life event” meals

Want to give a new mom of two a few nights off from cooking? Is a loved one sitting Shiva? Co-worker recovering from surgery? This option is for you.

I price by the meal—an entree and a side—which feeds two. Each meal is $100, and includes delivery in the Denver Metro area. This option requires a two-meal minimum, and I’m happy to offer longer-term, consistent drop-offs.

These meals are highly customized—I’ll talk to you (and/or your recipient, if applicable) about dietary restrictions, aversions, and recovery points (i.e. blood or hair loss, supporting chest/breast-feeding, etc.) and will curate your menu accordingly. I prioritize local ingredients whenever possible, and include a detailed PDF of menu dishes + ingredients.

Services

Customized Meals

Dinner parties, intimate family gatherings, birthdays—small to medium-sized event catering is my jam.

Let’s feed your people, reach out here.

Private Events

work with me