Ony Worel

I spent my childhood training with my father who was a great classically French- trained master chef. One of my fondest memories my father created for me was going sailing with him and my brothers on the Columbia river in Washington state. We played the romanticized version of pirates as we sailed on my brothers sailboat and I got to play at being “the Galley Wench” for the first time. To fetch refreshments for the crew on our journey. We would weigh anchor and go ashore to roast “pirate chicken” over a fire on the beach and search for buried treasure. It has stuck well because it fits so good and became my niche. I ran away to be here on the Kenai Peninsula when I was 14 years old by myself and have been here every since. I got a job when I first arrived as a babysitter for a commercial set netting family off of Kasilof beach. Where I lived the whole summer in a big green army tent right on the beach. I got my first cooking job when I was 16 for a fish camp. Even though no one knew the story about my childhood within the first two weeks of working I was titled “Galley Wench” once again by the fishermen I was cooking for and it again stuck to me well for several years. Without the dresses yet of course.

Many years following my first work as “the Galley Wench” cooking for fishermen when I was 33 years old, I was in a bit of a predicament having a new baby boy and no money and very little help. Thankfully it came to me to become the ultimate version of the Galley Wench. Not just in title but in dress too. So I ordered my first wench dress. Bodice, chemise, great big circle skirts and pirate boots. Soon as I got myself into it and looked in the mirror I never seen a more perfect version of myself ever. It was like I was made for these clothes instead of them being made for me. A billion times better for me than chef whites and hat. I’ve not owned pants every since and plan to dress as a wench to my last breath. The more I do it the more inspired and full of joy I become.

From the moment I came to Kenai Alaska after my apprenticeship with my father I was immersed in the beautiful, world-class, and quality local ingredients. I have dedicated myself to studying and adapting these ingredients with both traditional recipes and in my own inventions. For close to 8 years my live radio cooking show “The Galley Wench’s Cooking Show” I created to help locals make use of what was fresh and in season. Some of the well tested recipes from that show plus favorites I’ve done for years for family and friends, which have been worked hard on, practiced and well tested. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s hard won ingredients and waste them.

I have lived on the Kenai Peninsula for 35 years and much of that time I spent working in fishing camps, hunting camps, lodges and for myself as a private chef (dressed as a wench). I have taught cooking in both classroom settings and in private classes too. I do shopping lessons also so folks know how to pick the best ingredients and all the most important staples for their pantry.

My career and my life are intertwined in the most beautiful ways. It’s all an expression of my love and gratitude for the Kenai Peninsula here in Alaska. My love of this beautiful place melts together with my love and passion for cooking and the incredible wild ingredients available here. The freedom I have in this place to be so creative has given me opportunity to make some very mind blowing cumtastic things to eat. It allows me to grow from a place of love and make the Galley Wench something with the most beautiful character.