Vanya Insull
CEOVanya founded VJ Cooks in 2016 after relocating to Taupō with her young family. Having previously worked as a graphic designer and art director for multiple magazines in Auckland, Vanya decided to try her hand at food blogging. What started as a part-time activity during the boys’ nap-time, has now grown into a successful business. With the support of a growing team, Vanya’s recipes are now offered across multiple platforms including the VJcooks.com website, in the VJ Cooks Meal Planning App, on social media, and most recently, in her two cookbooks Everyday Favourites (July 2022) and Summer Favourites (August 2023).
Favourite food-related memory from childhood? Baking and pretending to talk to the camera like Alison Holst!
Ultimate final meal? Entree: Garlic king prawns with marie rose dipping sauce. Main: Fillet steak with creamy mushroom sauce and scallop potatoes. Dessert: Chocolate fondant with raspberry coulis and french vanilla ice cream
Theresa Reddish
Website ManagerWith a background in design and a life-long passion for food, Theresa combines the best of both worlds in her role as website manager for VJcooks.com. When she’s not optimising SEO, Theresa can be found in the test kitchen offering excellent advice like “more salt” or “parsley garnish?”. Theresa confesses that on more than one occasion, she’s had to step away from the computer and make a recipe then and there, because she’s been too hungry to keep writing. Theresa and Vanya met at a “new to Taupō” coffee group in 2018 and shortly after, Theresa became Vanya’s first employee. Check out Theresa's recipes here.
How has your cooking changed since working at VJ Cooks? I used to over complicate things! I would buy beautiful cookbooks full of long-winded, complex recipes…then never make anything from them. As a mum of two young children, I'm all about a quick, easy and nutritious meal and VJ Cooks has those in spades.
Go-to cake recipe for birthdays? Chocolate Banana Cake, with gluten free flour! My husband has coeliac disease and I love being able to easily adapt a recipe with a simple swap or two.
Grace Bowen
Recipe ContributorGrace is without a doubt the most qualified foodie on the team. With multiple City & Guilds diplomas in cookery, patisserie and culinary arts, Grace brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. You can find all of her amazing recipes, under the Gracie’s recipes category. These include tasty dinner ideas influenced by many years spent travelling overseas, in addition to her foolproof yet easy-to-follow patisserie recipes such as Lemon Meringue Pie and crowd favourites Chocolate Mousse Cake and Classic Apple Crumble. And if you hadn’t already guessed it from her photo, Grace is one of Vanya’s beloved younger sisters!
Favourite VJ Cooks meal? One Pot Meatballs and Gnocchi with mozzarella - delish!
Favourite food-related memory from childhood? Every Sunday we would go over for lunch at Nana’s house. She would make a huge delicious roast lamb with roasted veggies, mint jelly and all the trimmings. For dessert, we'd have apple crumble and ice cream, followed by a play in her beautiful garden.
Erin Harrison
Membership ManagerErin joined the VJ cooks team at the start of 2023, initially coming on board as the Membership Manager for the VJ cooks 'Cooking with VJ' membership. She now looks after the VJ cooks meal planning app - everything from Instagram stories to curating content and answering questions from subscribers - as well as email marketing and other projects that come up. She also takes recipe taste testing in the studio very seriously.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Communications from AUT, Erin has spent the majority of her career in marketing and as a freelance content writer.
Favourite VJ Cooks meal? Sticky Lemon Chicken & Slow Cooker Creamy Shredded Chicken. I love anything with chicken!
How has your cooking changed since working at VJ Cooks? I consider myself a very basic cook, but with two kids it's about trying to make nice food that doesn't take forever to prepare. So I love that I can make delicious meals that everyone will enjoy, without the fuss and without having to buy a whole heap of new ingredients every time.
Jane Smith
Social Media ManagerTaking on the role of Social Media Manager, Jane Smith joined the VJ cooks team in the middle of 2024. An established florist and creative specialist in Taupō, Jane had amassed a cult following for her own brand Jane Smith Floral Design. Known just as well for her beautiful floral creations as she is for her engaging and hilarious social media posts, it was a no-brainer to get Jane on board at VJ Cooks. Jane will be specialising in editing content allowing Vanya to focus on what she loves most - creating and styling recipes!
What is your favourite VJ cooks meal? Probably the roasted Tomato and Prawn Pasta, with the home made roasted tomato sauce. Such a delicious use of those abundant summer cherry tomatoes.
Do you meal-plan or wing it? I go through phases…the app has definitely helped me meal plan more often, which is so time saving when I do it.
Liana Williams
Facebook Manager & Studio AssistantLiana is the newest addition to the VJ Cooks team and brings with her a wealth of experience in administration, customer service and coordination. Over the years, she’s organised successful community events, managed social media channels and juggled multiple responsibilities all while raising three children. Highly organised with a great eye for detail, Liana loves creating order out of chaos and making sure everything is where it needs to be. She is the superstar we never knew we needed but couldn't live without!
Favourite VJ cooks recipe? The Arancini made from the fried ham and parmesan risotto - YUM!
Ultimate final meal? Call me basic, but Devilled Sausages and mash all the way!
