About me

Welcome to The Heavy Handed Chef — where comfort food is bold, portions are generous, and nobody leaves the table hungry!

I’m Lisa Zapatka, cooking and creating from West Hartford alongside my husband, Andrew - my right-hand man - and our lively crew of fur babies, Bailey and Oliver, plus Zoey and Mancini, who all keep us on our toes!

I’ve taken my love for cooking and turned it into a way to help others feel confident and truly enjoy their time in the kitchen. Through recipes, how-tos, videos, and all the things I love in life, I aim to make cooking approachable, fun, and full of flavor.

Let’s get cooking!