The Foreign Domestic is the work of Ali Tooch, an American chef, food writer and hospitality strategist based in Sydney.

Professionally trained and shaped by years working across restaurant kitchens, test kitchens, and private homes, Ali’s career extends beyond cooking into restaurant marketing and the founding of her own food brand. She holds an MBA in international hospitality from Hotelschool The Hague, grounding her work in both culinary craft and business strategy.

Ali who has lived and worked around the world — from Amsterdam to Sydney — draws inspiration from diverse food scenes and cultures. Her cooking and writing reflect a life shaped by travel, global friendships, and the flavours and stories that connect us across continents. The Foreign Domestic is where these experiences come together, translating a worldly palate into recipes and content that are both approachable and adventurous.

Her recipes sit at the intersection of professional technique and domestic life — developed with the precision of a working kitchen and written for real ones. Cooking gluten-free by necessity, she approaches every dish with a focus on structure, flavour, and restraint. The result is modern cooking that happens to be gluten-free, rather than defined by it.

Alongside recipe development, Ali collaborates with restaurants and food brands on concept development, menu strategy, and product thinking. She also creates engaging food content and articles that tell a story behind every dish. Her work reflects a deep understanding of how food moves through kitchens, businesses, and everyday life, translating culinary expertise into content that resonates with audiences.