seasonal | Local | Sustainable | delicious

HI - I'M RACHEL JELLEY. I’M A chef, writer and seasonal Cooking expert who’s head over heels in love with nature, and all the nourishment she gifts us.

I adore food and spend my life doing delectable things with amazing produce. This takes lots of different forms.

I cook 

Well, usually I cook! Things have been a little different during the pandemic, but in a normal world I create pop-up seasonal feasts and hold super-fun cooking classes. I also opened a restaurant, Hearth & Soul, in Sydney’s Newtown, whose menu showcased seasonal, local and sustainably sourced produce. During the 2020 lockdown I repurposed Hearth & Soul into a community kitchen, where we served free meals to anyone who’d lost work due to the pandemic. 

Right now, I’ve pressed pause on all of this as the pandemic plays out. Hearth & Soul is closed, but you can rest assured that there’s much more deliciousness to come from me. You can join my mailing list if you’d like to be notified when new offerings are released. 

I write

Each week I share deliciousness via Rachel Mail, a weekly note from me to you. I write about everything from loving your body to following your heart to yummy recipes and plenty more! This is also where I share info on any upcoming food offerings. You can read past Rachel Mails here, and sign up to receive them using the green button at the bottom of this page👇. 

I also write and share delicious recipes that are designed for the home kitchen - you can browse the collection here.

I grow

I adore gardening, and for me the cycles of growth, harvest and cooking are inextricably linked. I grow as much produce as I can in my small, sun-challenged urban backyard, and I love growing flowers too! Right now my efforts are somewhat limited by both space and sunlight, but I do what I can. I have active plans in the works for a larger space with a heap more going on in both the veggie and flower department, and I cannot wait to share news of this with you when it eventuates. As always, make sure you’re signed up to my mailing list to be the first to know.

 
 

sign up for rachel mail

“I love these emails! Best mailing list I’m on.” - GW, Sydney

“Thank you for sharing these lovely heart-warming snippets with me each Friday.” - KR, Victoria

“I always feel as though you are speaking to me directly, because there is always something relevant to my life.”
- MA, Brisbane

 
My Newtown Kitchen - Dividers - 2.png
 

WORDS OF LOVE

Testimonials

'As soon as you walk in, you feel like you have walked into a friend’s kitchen. The staff are warm, bubbly and amazing. The atmosphere is relaxed and chilled and embracing. The food is amazing.

We were amazed and will definitely be returning often. Try this place. You will be impressed.

Hearth & Soul indeed nourished my heart and soul. Beautiful food, relaxed vibe and Rachel's warm hospitality, together with the decor, create a chilled oasis in South Newtown. Can't wait to explore the rest of the seasonal menu.

What an absolute gem! Beautiful restaurant with a quaint courtyard which makes you feel a million miles away. We got a warm welcome and I felt like I could have stayed there for hours (which I did).

Rachel's attention to detail will astound you. She is the master of creating a good vibe in a space and has left no stone un-turned in her pursuit of this. From the beautiful fresh flowers to the eccentric global trinkets, it all comes together to create a marvelous feeling in ya heart as soon as you walk in the door.

I miss this meal already. Awh so good. 

It was such a beautiful experience being here and the breakfast was the best I've had in a long time!!! Hearth & Soul is a real stand out.

The space has such a peaceful feel from the big share table (decorated beautifully with fresh flowers) to the quiet back room and outdoor space (with fresh vege garden). The menu is unlike any other I have seen and you know it was created with some serious thought and love. Hearth & Soul is a must visit for anyone looking for a unique and delicious experience in the Inner West.

The decor has to be seen to be believed, it’s very cool

What a unique and lovely addition to King Street! So nice to sit in a place that openly wants you to feel at home... and so refreshing to have so much seasonal produce.

Hearth & Soul acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung people, on whose lands we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land.