Raised in a family that cherished time around the table, Alissa Tsukakoshi initially saw cooking as just a fun hobby. Working in a professional kitchen wasn’t on her radar. That changed during a transformative role at a behavioral treatment center for adolescent girls, where cooking dinners became a nightly highlight. Each evening, a staff member would cook for the entire dorm with a few of the students. It was then that Alissa realized her hobby could spark joy and warmth, inspiring her to pursue a culinary career and deepen her passion for cooking for others.

Alissa honed her skills in Boston’s high-end dining scene at esteemed venues like Lumière and L’Espalier before heading to Nantucket to work under Neil Ferguson at American Seasons. There, she dabbled in everything from pastries to pasta before returning to Boston to work as a sushi chef and fish butcher. Today, as a leader in the kitchen at the Inn’s Town Meeting Bistro, Alissa embraces creativity and an elegantly “reckless” approach, delighting diners with every thoughtful, playful plate.