If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
About
Private Chef • Weekly Meal Prep Service • Intimate Events
Private chef services for food lovers who'd rather be eating than cooking.
Over a decade perfecting my craft in NYC's most demanding kitchens—Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, Jean-Georges' ABC Kitchen and ABC Cocina, trained under the late Floyd Cardoz and James Beard winner Dan Kluger.
From restaurant group Culinary Operations Director to orchestrating luxury hospitality experiences through Prodject (Met Gala producers), I built my own private chef practice serving NYC and Hamptons' clients. Native Californian, back in San Diego, I bring the same uncompromising excellence to Southern California households.
Transform Sunday meal planning into effortless anticipation. Turn weeknight dinners into family celebrations. Host dinner parties where you're actually present with your guests!
(1) Weekly Meal Prep - Restaurant-quality meals designed around your household's lifestyle and preferences
(2) Private Dining Experiences - Complete hospitality while you create lasting memories with guests
Direct relationships with local fishers and farmers deliver ingredients so fresh, even Whole Foods can't access them. NYC trained, celebrating California's coastal abundance. Serving La Jolla to Oceanside.
Ready to transform how your household and guests experience food?
Send me your details and let's create something delicious!
Overview
Hired 8 times
Serves Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Background checked
1 employee
10 years in business
Business hours
This pro hasn't listed their business hours.
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, Venmo, and Zelle.
Services offered
Desired cooking skills
Interested cuisines
American
Japanese
Chinese
Indian
Work location
I travel to my customers
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
18 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Daniel O.
Jun 1, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
We had the pleasure of having Sandra prepare our 40th anniversary dinner. We had our children and grandchildren, they all raved about the quality and flavors of the food. Her exceptional knowledge of ingredients was amazing. She used fresh ingredients and prepared them elegantly. We give Sandra 5 stars.
Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 6 - 10 guests • Dinner • I'm flexible • Dessert • American - formal • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Personal Chef
Gillian B.
Aug 1, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
Sandra is a wonderful chef and a lovely person. She is extremely comfortable in a strange kitchen and navigated the MOST spectacular and memorable evening for my family and friends. We will be using her skills and talents again and she already feels like a friend.
Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 11 - 20 guests • Dinner • Standard (basic ingredients) • American - formal • Vegetarian or vegan • I'm flexible • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Personal Chef
Eva R.
May 27, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
Wow I am so glad I found Sandra. I needed meal prep for a busy week and she came through on short notice. The food was excellent and the portions were generous. She accommodated my dietary restrictions/preferences and still made food way more delicious than anything I could have made.
Details: Regular meal • 2 guests • Lunch • Dinner • I'm flexible • American - casual • I'm flexible • Weekly • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Personal Chef
Naomi L.
Feb 20, 2026
Chef Sandra pulled off an incredible birthday dinner for my husband with just about 24 hours notice! Her flavors were delicious, her communication and punctuality was spectacular, and she was just an all-around pleasure to welcome into our home. 10 out of 10 recommend!
Jasmine B.
Jun 20, 2026
Hands down the best personal chef experience! Sandra creates masterpieces that are completely gluten and sugar-free. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the meals are so flavorful and satisfying. It’s rare to find a chef who can balance healthy, restrictive dietary needs with such amazing taste. Highly recommend
Credentials
Background Check
Sandra Kim
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
You're already spending this. Groceries, Uber Eats, that third trip to Whole Foods this week—it adds up.
Weekly meal service from $450 plus groceries.
Private dining starts at $155/person.
But here's what you're actually buying: 15+ hours back every week. Zero dinner stress. Ingredients from farms and boats that supply Michelin quality restaurants, not grocery stores. And the kind of consistent nutrition that makes you feel different.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I start with one question - What would make your life dramatically easier?
Maybe it's walking in Tuesday at 7pm to dinner that's actually DELICIOUS! Maybe it's hosting 12 people without losing your mind. Maybe it's eating clean without thinking about it.
Then I build that. Custom menus around what you actually like and need. Ingredients from Carlsbad farms and local fishing boats—stuff Whole Foods can't even get. Everything coordinated around YOUR schedule.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My culinary journey started right here in San Diego at the The US Grant hotel and Del Mar Race Track's exclusive suites, then took me to formal training at The Culinary Institute of America.
I spent over a decade in NYC's most demanding restaurant kitchens from Michelin-starred Jean-Georges' ABC Kitchen and ABC Cocina, to Danny Meyer's Union Square Events, serving at The Core Club, and executing all culinary operations for Delicious Hospitality Group—Charlie Bird, Pasquale Jones, and Legacy Records as their Culinary Operations Director.
I had the great fortune training directly under culinary legends the late Chef Floyd Cardoz (3-star New York Times, Top Chef Masters winner) and Chef Dan Kluger (James Beard winner, Food & Wine Best New Chef).
This led to luxury hospitality project management for Prodiect—the Met Gala team—executing from Ralph Lauren's west coast fashion show for 250+ A-list guests, leading culinary creative strategy for Jay-Z x Armand de Brignac's Oscar Night Gold Party for 300+ guests, and more such as directing JP Morgan Chase's Sundance Film Festival After Party with Lucali pizza and Parcelle wine.
I built my private chef practice organically through referrals, serving HNW and UHNW Manhattan and Hamptons clients achieving 92% repeat business serving everything from intimate dinners for 2 to events to 35+ guests, plus complete household meal management during Hamptons Summers.
I apply the same precision, creativity, and standards.
