Karen Nicolas is a professionally trained chef whose several accolades include being a Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef recipient. She has spent her career cooking in some of the world's most celebrated kitchens. From San Francisco to New York City, her style has always been defined by a deep curiosity for global flavors, classic technique and seasonal intention.

But her deepest culinary transformation happened outside the restaurant industry. When faced with an aggressive diagnosis of lupus nephritis, Karen turned her analytical mind and culinary expertise toward a much larger battle: reclaiming her health.

Partnering with a functional medicine practitioner, Karen underwent a rigorous elimination diet and intentional anti-inflammatory eating to pinpoint what her body truly needed. True recovery, however, meant healing more than just the physical; it required actively removing chronic stress from her life and doing deep emotional work.

By combining this holistic lifestyle shift, she successfully reversed her disease. Today, because she lives with mindfulness and intention, Karen is healthier than she was even before her diagnosis. Through Still Standing, she proves that navigating autoimmune illness with discipline and intention can still be an act of pure culinary joy.