I’ve been cooking since I was tall enough to stand on a stool next to my grandma...stirring, tasting, and learning that food is love in its most practical form. Even back then, I wasn’t just following recipes… I was paying attention to why things worked. Heat, timing, seasoning, texture, a chef brain from day one.

 

By high school I was planning our family meals, doing the grocery shopping, and hosting full-on dinner parties at 16 like it was totally normal. (It wasn’t. But it was very me.) I’ve always been obsessed with the details that make food feel special, without needing fancy ingredients or a mile of cleanup.

 

I graduated with honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco (1998) at 20, then went on to work with Wolfgang Puck and Hyatt Hotels, where I sharpened my skills in high-pressure kitchens: precision, organization, plating, flavor building, speed, and consistency. At 25, I launched my first catering company with custom menus, flawless execution, and the kind of behind-the-scenes planning that makes events look effortless.

Then came the call that still makes me smile: Mammoth Mountain needed a new Executive Chef. At 29, I became the youngest and first female Executive Chef in Mammoth Lakes. I was leading teams, managing volume, creating menus, running operations, and delivering food that had to be exceptional every single day.

I’ve also worked as a corporate/broker chef, partnering with major food brands (yes, Tyson and Land O’Lakes among my favorites), developing recipes, testing products, and translating “chef flavor” into food people actually can cook. My superpower is making food approachable while still tasting like it came from a chef’s kitchen.

 

And then I became a mom...aka the ultimate plot twist. Because suddenly dinner wasn’t just about creativity… it was about getting something healthy and delicious on the table while someone needs a snack, someone lost a shoe, and the day has already been a lot.

 

That’s exactly why I created "Dinner Without Drama", my signature system for busy households who want better dinners with less stress. It’s chef strategy meets real life: smart prep, simple planning, flavor shortcuts, and “why didn’t I think of that?” hacks that save your sanity (and still make you feel like a rockstar in the kitchen).

Around here you’ll find recipes, tips, and honest encouragement from a classically trained chef who’s done it all, including high-end kitchens, big events, corporate brands, personal chef to celebrities, and now lives in the beautiful chaos of family life in the mountains.​

For years, I dreamed of writing a cookbook, but between 60–80 hour weeks in the food world, it always got pushed to “someday.” I kept telling myself: when I’m a mom, I’ll finally put all my recipes, tips, and chef shortcuts in one place, because that’s when real-life dinner matters most. And that’s exactly what happened.

Now I’m a mom of two, my amazing little boy and my sweet baby girl, and I’m turning everything I’ve learned in professional kitchens into real-world help for busy homes. The result is recipes and strategies that are doable, comforting, and genuinely delicious… without turning your weeknight into a whole production.

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Get in the kitchen, make a mess, make memories and have a blast!

 

Chef Alisa

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The mission of TheChefChic is to help busy moms (Dads TOO!) cook with calm, confidence, and a little chef-level sparkle—without spending all night in the kitchen. Through simple, family-friendly recipes, smart prep, flavor shortcuts, and real-world kitchen strategy, I make restaurant-quality skills feel doable on a Tuesday. Because everyone deserve dinners that feel good… and a home that doesn’t look like a tornado hit it afterward.

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​​Ask me anything! I love answering chefie questions! Heck, I have been the 1-800 chef for all of my friends and family my whole life. I hope I can be a source of entertainment and knowledge for you too. And now with 29 years' experience of running restaurants, managing hotels, and planning all sorts of parties...I have seen it all! 💛

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