Chef Nancy Manlove is a professional chef, knowledgable culinarian, and competition-tested talent whose career proves it is never too late to follow one’s passion. After retiring from the Space Shuttle Program in Houston, she returned to college to earn her Culinary Arts Certification—transforming a lifelong love of food into a full-time culinary career defined by precision, creativity, and heart.

Chef Manlove is widely recognized for her success on Food Network, earning multiple wins on Cutthroat Kitchen and Supermarket Steakout, and advancing as a finalist on Food Network Star. Her competitive achievements also include winning the Chefs of Chefs Competition at The Woodlands Wine & Food Week, the Barilla Pasta Competition, and finalist placement in the Chefs Category of the World Food Championships. She proudly contributed her talents as part of the America Team for the 10,000 Bites Around the World charity event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Known for blending technical mastery with artistic innovation, Chef Manlove’s work spans cooking demonstrations, public appearances, recipe development, menu consulting, test tastings, cookbook editing, food styling, and competition judging. She has been honored as a Top Female Chef in Houston and is respected for her discerning palate, refined techniques, and unapologetic love of truffles—an ingredient she uses thoughtfully to elevate both classic and modern dishes.

Beyond competition and media, Chef Manlove is deeply committed to mentorship and community engagement. She has served as a brand ambassador for Chef’s Roll and the World Food Championships, contributed for many years to the Galveston College Culinary Advisory Council, and regularly partners with local farmers markets to support culinary education and youth outreach.

Chef Nancy Manlove resides in Jersey Village with her husband Jim, where family, food, and creativity remain at the heart of everything she does.