Leanne Valenti

Leanne Valenti is a chef, educator, community builder, and entrepreneur who designs experiences and creates ventures that connect people and strengthen communities.

In her 20s, she earned both a Master’s in Education and a Chef’s Certificate while working full-time, then moved to rural Japan, where she learned to slow down and pay attention—an art she has been cultivating ever since.

She believes food is love made visible. She has seen how nourishing meals can restore energy and spark healing, and how sharing food can turn strangers into community. In East Austin, she built and ran Bento Picnic, an acclaimed restaurant that welcomed thousands of guests over eight years and was recognized by Forbes as “an experience unlike any other in town.”

Earlier in her career, Leanne worked at the intersection of food, education, and community—as an AmeriCorps teaching fellow, culinary school director, farm volunteer, and TEDx experience designer—each role shaping her belief in food as a catalyst for connection. Along the way, she has collaborated with extraordinary chefs, farmers, and mentors who continue to inspire her work.

Today, she is focused on projects that foster wholeness, connection, and purpose—including A Central Texas Thanksgiving — a first-of-its-kind campaign celebrating the seasonal know-how of local farmers and chefs to strengthen and support her hometown food system and local economy.