Private Chef Services – Chef Gwen

Chef Gwen’s culinary experience is extensive, with a well-rounded depth of knowledge in many areas. She is passionate about food and about sharing it with others in delicious and beautiful ways. After receiving her Master’s degree in art history from the University of Virginia, she spent time in Italy and France and realized she had a deep interest in food — where it came from, how it was grown, how it was prepared and served, and the history behind it. That led her to continue her education in the culinary arts.

After completing her culinary degree, she had the opportunity to be mentored by and work for several extraordinary people, including Jean-Louis Palladin, Robert Mondavi, Madeleine Kamman and Julia Child. Working in fine dining with these greats prepared her for the challenge of becoming the founding chef of the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California. At the Getty she created all of the food and wine menus for five culinary venues and led a team of 101 cooks, feeding a large national and international stream of guests and galas — sometimes over 20,000 people daily — while featuring farmer’s market produce and other local foods.

During this time she was personally selected many times to cook privately for people of fame. She was invited to be consulting chef for Chateau T., to be a guest chef three times on Crystal Cruise Lines, and to teach regular Getty cooking classes at Draeger’s in San Francisco. She also worked at Shida Winery in Japan for two months, helping set up a Napa-style restaurant.

In 2000 she received a Julia Child Grant from Les Dames d’Escoffier, which took her back to France to study specialty produce and farmers' markets. After returning, she focused her career on specialty produce and sustainable family farmers, becoming vice president of Pro*Act Specialties and developing the Harvest Sensations brand. During this time she created the first organic bagged kale salad, which is still available in stores today.

In 2014, after the passing of her father, Chef Gwen moved to North Carolina to be closer to family. She now teaches culinary arts at Cape Fear Community College, offers select wine dinner classes in Wilmington and is active in the Wilmington culinary community.

To ask about Chef Gwen’s availability, sample menus or pricing, please call (910) 524-5655 or contact us. You can also review our Private Chef Services overview page.

Bon Appetit!
— Chef Gwen