Seasonal, health-conscious cooking rooted in fine-dining technique.
CIA-trained chef creating personalized weekly meals, private dinners, special occasions, and wellness-focused food throughout San Diego.
Cooking with intentionAbout Maggie
Thoughtful food, made personally.
I’m a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America with experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality, banquets, special events, and high-volume professional kitchens.
My experience includes The Charter Oak, Callie in San Diego, Gatehouse Restaurant, Terranea Resort, and Dry Creek Kitchen. Those kitchens shaped my approach: disciplined technique, thoughtful sourcing, strong organization, and attention to every detail.
Today, I’m especially drawn to cooking that supports health, wellness, and everyday quality of life. I love fresh, seasonal, local, and organic ingredients, making food from scratch, and creating meals that feel nourishing and exciting.
Whether preparing a private dinner or cooking for a family throughout the week, I want every meal to feel personal, intentional, and genuinely cared for.
Private chef services
Personalized cooking for everyday life and special occasions.
Weekly Personal Chef
Customized meals around your household’s tastes, schedule, dietary preferences, and lifestyle.
Family Meals & Meal Prep
Fresh, ready-to-enjoy meals that make eating well during the week easier.
Private Dinners
Restaurant-level cooking at home for intimate dinners, date nights, and celebrations.
Dinner Parties & Small Events
Custom menus and thoughtful execution for gatherings and special occasions.
Wellness-Focused Cooking
Whole-food, nutrition-conscious meals tailored to individual preferences and dietary needs.
Vacation & Travel Chef
Private cooking for vacation homes, extended stays, travel, and destination experiences.
Also available for recurring household chef positions and select full-time private chef opportunities.
Culinary approach
Elevated technique. Fresh ingredients. Food made for you.
My cooking combines professional fine-dining technique with a fresh, seasonal, and health-conscious approach. I create food around each client: beautifully plated private dining one evening, simple nourishing family meals the next.
- Seasonal & local ingredients
- Organic when available
- Scratch cooking
- Farm-to-table inspiration
- Personalized meal planning
- Dietary flexibility
- Fresh seafood & quality meats
- Global flavors
Thoughtful presentation and seed-oil-free cooking upon request.
From the kitchen · I
Private dining
Beautifully composed dishes for dinners worth slowing down for.
From the kitchen · II
Everyday, elevated
Food made for real routines: fresh, satisfying, and personal.
Beyond the plate
A wider culinary range.
Culinary experience
A foundation in exceptional kitchens.
CIA Sommelier Dinner
Prepared and executed a four-course dinner for approximately 80 sommeliers in collaboration with Charlie Palmer, Paul Canales, and Shane McNally.
Education
The Culinary Institute of America
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
ServSafe Food Handler Certified
Training across classical and modern technique, global cuisines, seafood and meat fabrication, sauce work, pasta, baking, banquet production, plating, wine pairing, and professional kitchen operations.
Dietary & wellness
Cooking built around your lifestyle.
Menus can be customized around dietary preferences and nutritional goals.
High-protein · gluten-free · dairy-free · vegetarian · allergy-conscious · family-friendly · whole-food focused · seed-oil-free upon request.
Why Maggie
More than a meal.
Private cooking is personal. The best chef-client relationships are built around trust, consistency, communication, and understanding how someone genuinely likes to eat.
Professional references
Paul Canales · Chef Instructor, The Culinary Institute of America
Robert Montes · Terranea Resort
Additional professional references available upon request.
Service area
Serving San Diego
Based in San Diego and available throughout surrounding communities.
La Jolla · Pacific Beach · Del Mar · Rancho Santa Fe · Carmel Valley · Solana Beach · Encinitas · Carlsbad · Coronado
Available for select travel opportunities.
Get in touch
Let’s create something personal.
Whether you’re looking for weekly meals, a memorable dinner at home, wellness-focused cooking, or ongoing private chef support, I’d love to hear what you have in mind.