Hey, I’m Ava

Hey there! I’m Ava Thompson, 28 years old, and I live in sunny Austin, Texas. If you’ve stumbled across my kitchen adventures on TikTok or caught one of my late-night Insta stories featuring a sizzling pan and a curious dog in the background, then you already know this is not your average cooking space.

I didn’t grow up thinking I’d become a chef, much less one who makes a living spinning viral food trends into mouthwatering realities. I was actually a marketing major, hustling through college in between waiting tables and snapping food pics for local cafes. But somewhere between filming my first avocado rose and deep frying rainbow bagels “just to see what happens,” I fell head over heels for the kitchen. And not the Michelin-star kind, either—the kind where creativity, chaos, and community collide.

The first video that blew up? A spicy ramen grilled cheese sandwich I made at 2 AM, half-joking, fully hungry. The comments rolled in faster than the cheese could melt. People wanted more. More weird, more fun, more “I need to try this right now” kind of meals. So I gave it to them.

Now, I spend my days testing trends you’re too curious not to click on—like pancake cereal, cloud bread, or that whipped coffee craze we all tried during lockdown. Some ideas flop (looking at you, mustard on watermelon), but every fail teaches me something. I’ve come to love the unpredictability of cooking in the internet age. Recipes aren’t just instructions anymore; they’re stories, experiments, challenges, and inside jokes shared with millions.

What I love most is hearing from someone who finally nailed that feta pasta or dared to torch their mac and cheese after watching one of my clips. It reminds me that food is fun, and sharing it is even better. I don’t cook to impress. I cook to connect, to laugh, and to occasionally freak out over the perfect cheese pull.

So whether you’re here to find your next potluck showstopper or just came for the vibes, welcome to my kitchen at justyumrecipes.com. Let’s make something deliciously unexpected together.

“The heart of a home is its kitchen, and the soul of a great meal is the love put into it.” – Chef Ava