Special Occasions

"We were incredibly impressed with his skills and creativity, and we highly recommend him to any group who wants to feel incredibly spoiled by a local master Chef!"

- Murrieta

"I highly recommend Chef Jim for any party and would hire him again without hesitation. Thanks Jim for a wonderful night!"

- San Clemente

   Chef Jim is a versatile, artistic food service professional who started his culinary path on the kitchen counter watching his mother cook. He grew up helping in his family's delicatessen and, at an early age, began his career in the restaurant industry where he worked as a dish washer, busser, server, line cook, and delivery driver. 

   Eventually, his experience led him to a chef position on a Hawaiian Islands cruise ship. After several years of cooking for and serving hundreds of guests, Jim felt the need to serve his country and his career path took a completely different direction when he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. Catering to diverse clientele comes easy to Jim, who prepared and served countless meals on land and at sea for admirals, dignitaries, and crew members while he dedicated over 12 years of active duty service. 

   His passion for food led him back to the culinary industry and to the Art Institute of California, Orange County where he graduated with honors obtaining his degree in Culinary Arts. Chef Jim's unique blend of attention to detail, multi-tasking stamina, and a lifelong passion for pleasing people with delicious food is what makes him the Gourmet Guru!