PASSION feature
Story
by Ashley
ElvingtonImages
• Photography
Jacqueline Hazel Pettie
Story by Ashley
Elvington
• Reflection
by Tracyby
Rowell
“I WANT TO TEACH PEOPLE
TO
UP THEIR LIVES
THROUGH FOOD AND
ADVENTURE.”
spice
BY 2011, ALLY WAS SHARING RECIPES on Facebook. As the positive feedback steadily
increased, she created the “What’s for Dinner? Ally’s Kitchen” page. Realizing she needed a place
for her recipes and stories from her life, Ally created a website in 2013. She also entered cooking
contests, including the prestigious and very competitive Dole California Cook-Off, in which she won
$25,000 for her recipe and was later brought on as the first-ever ‘Dole Packaged Foods Social Media
Ambassador.’ “My role is to connect with the everyday home cooks in America and around the world.
I create signature recipes, make cooking videos, and cover big events that Dole has a significant
presence in, like the yearly Rose Parade and the family festival leading up to the parade called ‘Live
on Green.’” Ally has traveled the world for decades, going to places like Israel, Tuscany, and Eastern
Europe and soon will be heading to Africa. She’s covered the popular and trendy Aspen Food and
Wine Festival for Fiji Water and was a finalist on FYI Channel’s World Food Championships. In May
2015, her first cookbook, Ally’s Kitchen ~ A Passport for Adventurous Palates (reflecting her love of
travel), was released and became an Amazon International Best Seller. “If you’ve ever had a baby
and remember the first time they put that baby in your arms… well, it’s kinda the same feeling
when I first held the cookbook in my hands. I created most of the recipes and did almost all of the
photography. Over the course of about 16 months, with the help of an amazing foodie friend who
was my editor, we ‘birthed’ this masterpiece!” Ally now has over 265,000 followers on Facebook and
just had a feature spread with four of her recipes in the February/March 2016 issue of Taste of Home,
the world’s largest food and entertainment magazine. “I have no idea what lies ahead, but that’s
what makes life eventful and interesting… turning the corner and finding a whole new opportunity.
I always pray that it lets me share my God-given passion/talent and love with others to inspire them
to find their adventures in this one-and-only life we have to live.”
No matter if she’s on TV or publishing another book, Ally is content to do what her heart loves
most. “I love cooking and exploring, like cooking with a tagine; they are vessels of artwork. I love
comfort dishes, one skillet or pot recipes, and I love to take vintage recipes and give them my ‘boho’
flair, whether it’s with an African spice mixture or substituting a healthier ingredient. I want to teach
people to spice up their lives through food and adventure. And, these adventures don’t have to be
death-defying or scary, simply doing something different to change things up. I love the artistry of
cooking. It’s like having a blank canvas, and I’m creating edible masterpieces.” During her days as
‘Dr. Alice,’ Ally touched thousands of lives and made an impact on young people. These days, she’s
making her mark in a different way. “Cooking has changed the direction of my life. For years, I accompanied my husband on his corporate business trips. Now, he goes with me! I’ve gotten to meet
people I never imagined. I’m working for a brand that is in millions of household pantries. My passion has changed my life’s direction. For that, I’m very grateful to have the experience. I know that
not many people have the chance to re-invent themselves with gusto and zest in their late 50s and
60s. But, this is part of my DNA, my boho nature — exploring all that can be in this one-and-only life.”
Ally Phillips resides in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, with her husband Ben. They have five children: Matthew,
Andrew, Nicholas, Lynn and Amy. Ally’s Kitchen ~ A Passport for Adventurous Palates can be purchased at
Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble online, and Lee’s Apothecary in Murrells Inlet. For recipes, blog posts and more
on Ally’s life, visit www.allyskitchen.com.
102
FEBUARY 2016
SHEMAGAZINE.COM