Atlanta Personal Chef Service boasts an ever-growing team of personal chefs. Our team is made up of highly skilled individuals who have a passion for cooking quality meals and providing excellent service. Our hand-selected chefs all have culinary degrees and several years of professional cooking experience; many having worked in fine-dining restaurants or five star hotels. Once hired to work for Atlanta Personal Chef Service, all chefs are required to undergo training with a lead chef before working solo. We are very careful to match our chefs to your needs, for service we guarantee you’ll love.

Chef Gizzy is a passionate chef that is native to Atlanta, Georgia. She has been cooking in professional, fine dining kitchens for the past 10 years after graduating from Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts. While developing her craft she formed valuable relationships with many chefs in Atlanta. She worked for Kevin Rathbun, Linton Hopkins, and under the various talented chefs at Fifth Group Restaurants. She was on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen Season 18. While Ramsay’s name carries a lot of clout, she is most inspired by Chef Mossimo Bottura’s take on classic Italian cuisine.

Chef Gizzy joined the team mid-pandemic and immediately stepped in to organize their budding delivery service. Her leadership and kitchen operation experience quickly earned the trust of the chef team and she worked to keep client’s needs met as they pivoted operations in a major way. As in-home and events picked back up in 2021, and with a deeper understanding of the mission and purpose of APCS, Gizzy continued to evolve all three lines of business and pour into the chef team. “If you’ve ever met or worked with Chef Gizzy, you know she is an extremely talented chef—delightful to work with and passionate about what she does. I invited her to join me as an owner in the business to support long term growth and future success for Atlanta Personal Chef Service,” Amy Patricio shares.

In her free time, you can find Gizzy tending her garden. While not a natural green thumb, she is getting better each season with the help of her father. She grows a variety of different herbs and vegetables such as; heirloom tomatoes, zephyr squash, and bell peppers. Gizzy is a fun-loving and versatile chef who loves spreading joy through her food.

Sarah grew up in Atlanta, and was a Business and Hospitality Administration major at Georgia State University. She has worked in fine dining in Atlanta as a server, bartender, and front of house manager. Before coming to APCS, she spent 10 years working in the healthcare industry. “I am excited to get back into hospitality,” she shares.

Sarah’s favorite Atlanta restaurants are Redbird, Kimball House, St. Cecilia and El Tesoro, and she loves to eat any kind of sushi, the Italian Grinder from Staplehouse, or a big plate of pasta.

Sarah and her husband James love to explore Atlanta restaurants and travel. They have a dog, Huey Lewis, and Sarah loves to walk the dog and exercise, as well as manage her rooftop vegetable garden in the summer. Sarah and her husband are on a fun quest to visit every state and national park in the U.S. “So far we’ve been to 36 states and 22 parks,” she reports.

Sarah grew up in Atlanta, and was a Business and Hospitality Administration major at Georgia State University. She has worked in fine dining in Atlanta as a server, bartender, and front of house manager. Before coming to APCS, she spent 10 years working in the healthcare industry. “I am excited to get back into hospitality,” she shares.Despite being born in Philadelphia, Emilie considers herself a native Georgian, as her family moved to Georgia when she was seven years old. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Emilie lived in Europe for a few years (she’s actually French American), then the west coast, before finally moving back to Atlanta in January 2020 to raise her daughter.

Although her role at APCS is Office Manager/Catering Sales Coordinator, Emilie does have an extensive culinary background—from baking cupcakes for parties to an internship at a Michelin-starred restaurant, and finally landing at Avignon for culinary school. In addition, Emilie received her Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and Language with Music Business Certificate, and her License Professionnelle Metiers des Arts culinaires et des arts de la Table.

Emilie also worked on an organic vegetable and olive farm one summer. “It was such an amazing experience to be able to learn about where our food is coming from and to help grow it for others,” she reflects.

Another fun job she had was as a kickboxing instructor. “I loved being able to share with others something I have been using for years to feel better about myself,” she explains. “I am currently trying to teach my three-year-old, but she mostly just likes to put on the gloves and growl.”

Emilie still loves kickboxing in her free time, as well as reading and spending time with her daughter and family. She enjoys eating Mexican food, pizza, and French food—and her favorite restaurant is Anis in Buckhead.” It is a French bistro, and I love the vibe—and the food is amazing,” she shares. “It’s a little bit of a splurge, but so worth it.”

The personal chef part of the restaurant industry is new for Emilie, and she is excited to learn as much as possible. “I am also excited about working with a company that is continuing to grow, and I am hoping I can contribute to that growth,” Emilie says.

Chef Marty was born and raised in central Los Angeles in the middle of the city’s head-spinning culinary diversity, which inspired and informed his palate from a young age. An amazing dinner at chef Nancy Silverton’s seminal LA restaurant Campanile was the fuse that lit his passion to create wonderful culinary experiences and pursue a career in the field.

He began his career at Joachim Splichal’s Patina Catering Group, working on both private parties and major events such as the Oscars and the Emmys. He then became cheese monger at Joan’s On Third in LA, followed by four years with Lulu Powers Food to Flowers as Event Coordinator. After relocating to South Florida, Marty worked as head chef at Someone’s In The Kitchen Catering in Palm Beach, creating and implementing menus for both high profile events and private parties.

After two close shaves with major hurricanes, he decided to move to Atlanta in the fall of 2017, where since arrival he’s been the Chef/Kitchen Manager at Atlanta caterer Post Exchange Catering.
Marty’s favorite chefs are Louisville’s Edward Lee, who fuses his Korean roots with a New Southern sensibility, and LA’s Roy Choi, famous for his Korean/Mexican combinations.

He’s very excited to have settled in the Atlanta area, loving its mixture of big city bustle and sophistication and Southern charm and kindness. He finds the food scene here inspiring and revelatory, loving everything from Ramen at Umaido in Buford to a wonderful, creative meal at chic in town spots such as 8ARM. In addition to the Atlanta food scene, he enjoys Piedmont Park, the High Museum, and long walks with his three dogs on the Beltline.

Marty’s greatest happiness comes from providing people a consistently special dining experience. He’s truly grateful to be one of the fortunate people whose passion in life aligns with their profession. He greatly looks forward to sharing that passion with the clients of Atlanta Personal Chef Service.

Chef Jason was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, but when he was seven years old, his
family moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, where he grew up. After graduating high school, he went
to work as a food runner at P. F. Chang’s, which inspired Jason to take a three-month
introductory culinary course at Clayton University. As he was taking the culinary course, he
discovered how natural it felt to create dishes and cook. His love and passion for cooking grew,
so after obtaining his certification from Clayton University in 2002, he went on to Le Cordon
Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta. He has also received his NASM Nutrition certification.

Chef Jason started his culinary career at Canoe Restaurant, working his way up every line
position. He eventually went on to stage at Cherokee Country Club and then was off to Chicago
to stage for Charlie Trotter (who is one of his greatest inspirations). Jason eventually returned to
Atlanta, continuing his career at The Ritz Carlton as a Chef De Partie, receiving a 5-star award
for his performance in the kitchen. After taking a break from cooking to venture into sports
nutrition and bodybuilding, in 2020, Chef Jason found his way back into cooking as head chef of
SAA Meal Prep Co., where he developed, created and prepared weekly menus.

Any type of pasta dish tops Chef Jason’s list of favorite foods to make. He shares how
much he enjoys “the detail and delicate steps you must put into making the pasta, the sauces, and
the proteins that come together to create an amazing well-rounded dish.” When it comes to his
favorite foods to eat, Jason loves any type of contemporary American fusion and addition to any
style of Asian cuisine, Italian cuisine and Korean BBQ. In particular, the Squid Ink Malfadini
(charred calamari, native shrimp and mussels) at St Cecilia is a favorite dish of his.

Chef Jason enjoys experimenting with a variety of ingredients, transforming them with
different techniques and creating new flavor combinations. Outside of the kitchen, Jason loves to
visit farmers markets and attend concerts, and he takes time to maintain a healthy lifestyle by
working out, hiking and playing disc golf.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Carly got her start in the culinary industry at a young
age. She began working, absorbing, and falling in love with food as a twelve-year-old in a local
bakery. As the years passed, her passion for the culinary world grew. She pursued a Baking and
Pastry Degree at The Culinary Institute of America, went to Ireland for a Culinary Certificate
from Ballymaloe Cookery School, and rounded out her education with a Culinary Management
degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

One of Carly’s favorite things about the industry is that learning never ceases. Carly’s
career has led her to many different locations learning from many different people. Her
adventures include discovering the ins and outs of managing a vegan café, churning ice cream at
an ice cream shop, leading a team at a Middle Eastern Café, plating desserts at a fine dining
restaurant, and beyond. One of the most influential chefs Carly had the privilege to work with
was Ana Sortun. Ana’s perspective on Middle Eastern cuisine, spices, and vegetable cookery
was eye opening to Carly and completely changed the way she approached cooking. Carly loves
cooking from a wide range of cuisines, but finds the most enjoyment when discovering a dish or
cuisine unfamiliar to her.

A new transplant to Atlanta, Carly is looking forward to uncovering all that the culinary
scene in Atlanta has to offer. As someone with a major sweet tooth, she’s especially looking
forward to finding the best ice cream in the city. When she’s not exploring new restaurants, you
can find Carly obsessing over her twelve-year-old toy poodle, Ike. Carly and Ike love long walks
with beautiful scenery, snuggling up with a good book, or working on a new crochet project.
Carly has also recently discovered a love of the gym, growing stronger, and making healthy
meals taste their best. Carly is beyond excited to bring her love and passion for food into your
home and onto your plates.

Chef David was born in Illinois, but he grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia where he lived for
most of his life until moving to Atlanta over a decade ago. David got into cooking from helping
his mom in the kitchen and continued during his time in Scouting. He eventually started working
in kitchens to pay for his music ambitions and activities. Over the years working in different
restaurants, he fell in love with the atmosphere and culture. “I found another creative outlet that I
enjoyed and was good at,” Chef David shares. “I loved connecting to people through the food
and service.”

David went to college for music education before switching to hotel/restaurant
management.Then after figuring out that he wanted to be a chef, he went to culinary school and
graduated in 2009 from Le Cordon Bleu. While in culinary school, David started working in chef
driven-kitchens, working at the Hilton in downtown Atlanta, Rathbun’s, Krog Bar, and KR
SteakBar. He was also a chef at Top Flr and 1Kept, and his latest role was as lead sous chef at
South City Kitchen in Midtown for the past six years.

David has read a lot of cookbooks and loves to learn something new or a different
perspective on a cuisine or dish. Some of his favorite books are from Yotam Ottolenghi for his
take on vegetables and how to get creative with them. Chef David will eat “pretty much
anything,” but he loves trying to cook new dishes or something he’s been reading about. His
favorite cuisines are Southern, Italian, and Mediterranean, and he enjoys grilling out and
smoking various meats, as well as baking and making pastries and pasta.

David is a self-proclaimed “big nerd” who loves all things Marvel, comics, and sci-fi. He
reads a lot, from cookbooks to fiction. “I enjoy learning and try to learn something new every
day if I can,” he explains. David enjoys live music and comedy, as well as going to see movies,
visiting a new brewery, or going to watch sports, especially Atlanta United.

Chef Kimberli was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, where as a child, she was
always in the kitchen cooking something—experimenting and trying everything out on her
friends and cousins. After high school, she embraced her love for cooking and went to Trinidad
and Tobago Hospitality Institute in Trinidad, where she studied baking and pastry arts for one
year, then culinary arts management.

At the age of 19, Kimberli decided to move to Atlanta to further her culinary education,
where she attended the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta. She went on
to work in several restaurants throughout Trinidad and Atlanta, including as a sous chef for
Concentrics Restaurant Group, working at TAP, Parish and Two Urban Licks. She also worked
at fine dining restaurants like Abattoir and Woodfire Grill, where they specialized in seven-
course tasting menus.

Chef Kimberli learned much working under Chef Tyler Williams at Abattoir. “He taught
me proper time management skills and how to prioritize and plan for the next step,” she reflects
with gratitude. “He inspired me with how he played with different flavors and types of cuisines.”
While she loves making Caribbean and Indian food, her favorite foods to eat are sushi,
Mexican and Indian, and her favorite Atlanta restaurants are Eight Sushi, Bar Taco for a nice
upbeat environment, or Tacos La Villa for a more traditional experience. “And I must have
dessert!” she adds.

When she’s not cooking, Kimberli enjoys going to different restaurants and experiencing
all different cultures through their cuisine. “I also love working out and traveling the world,” she
shares. “Spending quality time with friends and family also holds a special place in my heart!”

Chef La’Davione was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. His first job in the culinary world was as a pizza cook in 2015 at Monza Pizza in Charleston. “That’s where I began to find my passion for creativity. It wasn’t much but pizzas, but it allowed me to see the fun side of cooking,” he reminisces.

La’Davione graduated from the Art Institute of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in culinary business management. For five years prior to joining the APCS team, Chef La’Davione worked for the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, starting out at the Macintosh in Charleston, working under Chef Jeremiah Bacon and Chef Jacob Huder. “Chef Bacon has always been a great teacher to me,” La’Davione shares. “He’s someone I call anytime have a question or an idea about cuisine.”

In 2018, Chef La’Davione moved to Atlanta and began working at Oak Steakhouse in Avalon, being promoted to sous chef within a few months.
Chef Harley Hazel was one of the most influential mentors for La’Davione. “He taught me a lot of things that I still use today,” La’Davione explains. “Patience, expanding my thoughts more, and just overall the love of what I do. But I have been inspired in some way by all the chefs I have worked with. I take a little piece of knowledge from each of them.”

Chef La’Davione likes to cook just about anything, but his family loves it when he makes spaghetti from scratch, barbecue ribs, or shrimp and grits. While his specialty is southern cuisine, his style of cooking at home can be described as “winging it.” His favorite foods to eat are wings, sushi, and chocolate chip cookies. He and his wife love the brunch at Toast on Lennox.

La’Davione is a married father of two, with a nine-year-old son Aidex, and a two-year-old daughter Harper. They also have a very active pit bull, Jinx. La’Davione and his family love traveling and trying new restaurants. In his free time, La’Davione likes to hang out with his family, work out, play video games, and watch whatever show he is binge-watching at the time.

Our Chef Zach was born in Sumter, South Carolina, although he moved overseas at a young age and grew up mostly in Baumholder, Germany. Zach considers Germany his home, but most of his family is from the South. In fact, it was visiting his southern family that got Zach started on his culinary journey. “Every summer when we came to visit, I most looked forward to cooking with my mother and grandmother,” Zach remembers. But it was Zach’s older brother—who competed in high school cooking competitions and ultimately pursued a culinary education—who inspired Zach to pursue a culinary career professionally.

In addition to earning his culinary degree with honors from Wiregrass Technical College, Zach was a line cook for two years at the Bleu Pub in Valdosta, Georgia. He also worked a full year doing large-scale meal prep at SAA Meal Prep Co. Most of Zach’s other experience has been in the realm of catering and catering logistics. He also won the local SkillsUSA competition and competed in the statewide SkillsUSA competition.

If Zach had to pick one favorite dish to cook, it would be Filipino Chicken Adobo. “This dish has been in our family for as long as I can remember and really just reminds me of home,” Zach reflects. “Asian cuisine and Asian fusion are my favorite to cook and eat in general.”

Being fairly new to Atlanta, Zach hasn’t experienced a lot of the local restaurant scene, but so far, his favorite place is Umaido in Suwanee. “Umaido is a cool little ramen spot that has wonderful rice bowls as well,” he explains.

Zach likes to spend most of his free time hanging out with his roommates. “When we feel like getting out of the house, we love to go play disc golf or bowling,” Zach shares. “We love to cook together and play video games when we are just hanging around the house.”