KNOWN FOR HER blend OF FASHION, WELLNESS, AND APPROACHABLE COOKING,
Kit Keenan HAS BUILT A lifestyle brand THAT FEELS AS aspirational AS IT IS accessible.
The daughter of designer Cynthia Rowley first entered the public eye on The Bachelor, but she has since carved out a distinct identity as a food creator, podcast host, and entrepreneur.
Through her recipes and upcoming cookbook, In Good Taste, Keenan makes home cooking feel fun, simple, and genuinely doable—even for beginners. Her content reflects the same sensibility that defines her style: polished, creative, and rooted in what feels authentic.
Read about Kit Keenan’s journey in her C&C 100 interview below.
What are some of your earliest memories of food that still bring you joy? Did it center around the holidays, or were you regularly helping your family out with everyday meals?
My childhood was split between fashion and cooking. My mom worked incredibly hard, but she always made time for family dinners, and some of my favorite memories are being in the kitchen with her. It was never really about the recipes, it was about spending time together, and the kitchen was always the heart of our home.
When did you realize you wanted to make food part of your content?
It happened pretty naturally. I started by sharing recipes on my stories, just things I genuinely loved, and as more people asked for them, I began posting on my feed, too. My goal is to make cooking feel easy and approachable so more people can fall in love with it the way I have.
Many people might think a content creator's job is just to create delicious recipes all day, but what’s a surprisingly challenging aspect of your work?
I pinch myself every morning that this is my life. It really does feel like a dream job, but one of the biggest challenges is constantly having to evolve creatively. At the same time, that is what helps me grow and ultimately makes my content stronger and my audience more engaged.
Can you walk me through your creative process of developing a recipe? Where do your best ideas come from?
The best recipes usually start with a reference point. I tend to go back to something from my childhood- like a dish tied to a specific memory. Then I will test and tweak it to feel more modern and relevant for my audience.
I also think about what makes a recipe unique. I don’t want to make things that you can just look up anywhere. I love playing with unexpected combinations, like a caesar egg salad. I love both separately, and together they become something even more special.
“Instead of just chasing new followers, I care more about building a deeper connection with my audience.”
You’ve grown up around fashion but built your own identity in the industry—how have you been intentional about carving out a brand that feels distinctly yours?
I actually think there’s a lot of overlap between fashion and food, but growing up I never really saw anyone merge the two. Both have a similar creative process. You’re working with colors and textures, and thinking about how everything comes together in the final form.
I’ve been really intentional about creating what feels most natural to me. I’ll always love fashion and getting dressed in the morning, but building my brand around food feels more authentic. Cooking is something I genuinely love and can show up for consistently.
How would you describe your approach to building an online audience right now? What boundaries have you learned are essential to maintain?
I think the obvious goal is to reach as many people as you can with your message. For me, that means making cooking feel fun and approachable, even if you have no experience and or fancy kitchen appliances. But instead of just chasing new followers, I care more about building a deeper connection with my audience. Sometimes it’s less about how many people see a video and more about how many people really connect with it.
In terms of boundaries, I’m mindful of what I share and what I keep just for myself. For example, I’ll film the cooking process but keep the actual meal with my family just for me.
What is the one go-to ingredient in your pantry or fridge that you must have on hand at all times?
Parmesan is probably the most-used ingredient in my household. Real parmesan adds an elevated nutty intensity to even the simplest dishes, so I always make sure to have it on hand. I also find myself reaching for it whenever a dish feels like it’s missing a little something. It’s one of those ingredients that can instantly pull everything together.
What’s a date-night dish that looks like you tried hard, but is secretly very simple?
I have a recipe in my upcoming cookbook, In Good Taste, called Wifey Fettuccine, which is my take on the classic fettuccine Alfredo I grew up with. It’s quick and easy, but really flavorful and delicious. It’s guaranteed to impress.
Rapid fire POP QUIZ:
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is:
make my morning iced latte.
If I had one more hour in the day, I would:
learn how to play mahjong.
A song that describes the era I’m in right now is:
One Week of Danger by The Virgins. It was the song we used in my book announcement video.
My current obsession is:
my Ninja air fryer.
Three words to describe the legacy I want to leave behind…
curious, welcoming, and well-fed.