About Chef Junnie

FOOD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT •

Culinarian • Innovator

My Story

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

“Growing up, my parents instilled in me a deep appreciation for the quality and deliciousness of food. My mother, in particular, believed that food is medicine—teaching me that what we eat shapes our health and well-being.

From her, I learned to cook with fresh ingredients, herbs, and thoughtful food pairings chosen not only for flavor but also for their healing properties. These early lessons became the root of my passion: a love for delicious food and a lifelong embrace of the belief that food can heal.”

Experience

Chef Junnie Lai is an internationally recognized chef consultant, product innovator, and educator specializing in food product development. Her expertise spans international cuisine with deep specialization in Asian, Southeast Asian, and Chinese recipe development.

With more than 20 years of experience in Research & Development, she has led projects from concept to commercialization—excelling in prototyping, recipe innovation, product scale-up, and successful market launches.

In addition to her culinary expertise, Junnie is skilled in operations and supply chain management, with experience supporting businesses ranging from small startups to billion-dollar corporations.

Polished, multilingual, and market-savvy, she has a proven track record of anticipating food trends, driving sales growth, and optimizing efficiencies to help brands thrive in an evolving marketplace.

My Why

I became a research chef while pursuing my PhD in Natural Medicine, driven by a vision to create food that is not only delicious but also purposeful—leveraging modern food technology and functional ingredients to design the next generation of products.

My passion lies in developing food with intention: products that respond to consumer needs, anticipate market trends, and fill gaps with unique, highly saleable solutions—all while keeping communities and well-being at the center.