Meet Chef Za.

Nzali Scales, affectionately known as Chef Za, translated her love for cooking into a business and founded Zaza’s Kitchen in 2018 as a food blog and meal prep service. Upon graduating from Spelman College, she went on to Northwestern University as a Doctoral Sociology student in 2019 to research how to address food-related health disparities in Black and Brown communities. Although this research gave her a fundamental understanding of food injustice in these communities, she felt she could use her platform with Zaza’s Kitchen as a more direct solution. The following year, she pivoted from a student to a full-time chef and entrepreneur.

Chef Za combines her zesty personality with her love for travel and fresh ingredients to curate memorable culinary experiences that drive impact. By teaching recipes and culinary techniques via Instagram Live during the pandemic, she began to help her online community "experience their inner chef". As her audience grew, her services with Zaza’s Kitchen expanded to corporate virtual classes- 'The Prep to Plate Experience' and children’s virtual classes- 'Zaza’s Cooking Academy.' She also offers cooking demos, recipe development, content creation, and private dining/catering services in the Metro Atlanta area. Chef Za has authored two e-cookbooks: Everything But The Turkey and Chefs, Lovers, and Friends- Gourmet Eats for the Everyday Lover and one printed cookbook- Everything But The Turkey Too. She was also featured on What’s Cooking? Atlanta- Season One-Episode Eleven, won the 2021 Women That Bloom- Wonderfully Woman Brunch Cooking Competition, and is the Chef-In-Residence for Beautiful Briny Sea. She has also collaborated with local chefs in Atlanta at events and activations.

Chef Za holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College, a Food & Nutrition Teacher’s Certificate from Columbia University, and a Health Coaching Certificate from the Integrative Institute of Nutrition.