A lamp is not only carried by nurses.
An Honorary Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale is remembered as the Lady with the Lamp — the one who walked the dark wards so no one would be forgotten. Some people carry that same light without ever wearing a nurse’s badge. For me, Chef AJ is one of them.
Chef AJ is not a nurse. But in my heart she is an honorary one — an honorary Florence Nightingale — because of how faithfully she has shown up for people who are trying to heal, one plate and one conversation at a time. Her kitchen has been a lamp for so many, and her conversations helped light the way for me, too.
Honored by The Plantrician Project
In 2026, Chef AJ was honored as a recipient of The Plantrician Project’s Luminary Award, celebrated at the Power of the Plate conference in San Diego. It felt like the whole plant-based community finally said out loud what so many of us have known for years.
You can watch The Plantrician Project’s conversation with Chef AJ about the award here: Chef AJ Receives the 2026 Plantrician Luminary Award (YouTube).
A Pause Before You Go
Who has carried a lamp for you — even if they never had the title? Maybe today is a good day to thank them.
Thank you, Chef AJ. The light you share reaches farther than you know.
— Nathanael Elijah Smith, FNP-C, DipACLM
Founder, Kitchen Monk™
About this page: This is a personal thank-you from Nathanael. “Honorary Florence Nightingale” and “honorary nurse” are his own words of gratitude — not a title, credential, or award from any nursing organization. Chef AJ and The Plantrician Project have not reviewed or endorsed this page, and mentioning them here does not mean they are affiliated with or endorse Kitchen Monk. Kitchen Monk receives no payment for this mention. Questions or corrections: rfjeep@gmail.com.
