Updated: June 2026
There is a certain kind of vacation where you want everything handled, the meal planning, the grocery shopping, the cooking, the cleanup, all of it. A personal chef makes that possible, and on Anna Maria Island, where the pace is already slow and the setting is already beautiful, having a private chef cook for you in your vacation rental takes the whole experience up a level. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, traveling with a group, or simply want to enjoy restaurant-quality meals without leaving the comfort of your rental, the chefs on this list bring extraordinary skill and genuine passion to every table they set.
For the full island dining picture if you’d rather eat out, my Dining on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide covers every restaurant worth knowing.
Why Hire a Personal Chef
The case for hiring a personal chef on vacation is an easy one. A personal chef eliminates meal planning, grocery shopping, prep, cooking, serving, and cleanup, giving you back hours you would otherwise spend on logistics. Menus are tailored to your preferences, dietary needs, and food allergies, and a great chef will often introduce you to flavors and combinations you would never have thought to request. The experience also creates a natural setting for gathering, whether it is an intimate dinner for two or a celebration with a larger group. It is restaurant quality food in your own space, on your own time.
Personal Chefs on Anna Maria Island
Chef Amalia
In Chef Amalia’s words:
Welcome to my world of flavor and creativity! I’m Chef Amalia, a professional chef with over 25 years of experience, bringing gourmet dining to your table. I graduated from The Culinary Institute of America at Universidad Anáhuac del Sur in Mexico City, and my passion for food has taken me across the globe.
You may have seen me on TV cooking segments or as a contestant on MasterChef, sharing my love for food. But my true passion is creating extraordinary dining experiences for my clients—whether it’s an intimate dinner, a yacht event, or a grand celebration. Every dish I create is more than just food—it’s an experience, a celebration, a memory in the making.
Let the chef cook for you while you are visiting our area! With a personal in-house chef, you can enjoy five star cuisine without ever having to leave the comfort of your vacation rental.
· Chef Amalia ·
Our Chef
In Chef Michaelangelo’s words:
Chef Michaelangelo Larive, founder of OurCheff, is redefining the meal prep experience with restaurant-quality, customized meals designed to fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re a busy professional, a family seeking healthy, ready-to-enjoy meals, or someone with specific dietary needs, OurCheff provides chef-crafted meal prep solutions that deliver flavor, nutrition, and convenience straight to your table.
With a background in fine dining and a passion for creating exceptional meals, Chef Michaelangelo focuses on high-quality ingredients, diverse flavors, and a seamless experience tailored to your preferences. From pescatarian and gluten-free options to gourmet, chef-driven menus, each meal is thoughtfully prepared to ensure balance and satisfaction.
Beyond meal prep, OurCheff also offers private dining and event services, bringing an elevated culinary experience to intimate gatherings, celebrations, and special occasions. Whether it’s an elegant multi-course dinner, a casual beachside gathering, or a chef-curated meal experience, OurCheff handles everything—from menu planning to execution—so you can enjoy a stress-free, memorable event.
Serving Anna Maria Island and beyond, OurCheff makes it easy to enjoy high-quality meals at home and unforgettable dining experiences for your special occasions.
· Chef Michaelangelo ·
Personal Chef Cheryl
In Chef Cheryl’s words:
Born in South Africa, on a farm near the foothills of Table Mountain in Cape Town, Chef Cheryl grew up in a family of food lovers, where family dinners and Sunday lunches under the giant eucalyptus trees were more of a celebration of life than a sterile plate of food.
Cheryl’s greatest influence and inspiration during those formative years came from her uncle who was a renowned South African chef. Cheryl’s culinary journey began when she was an active participant of an effort to feed the poor in the rural areas of Southern Africa.
Cooking with the bare minimum of ingredients and making it look and taste good was not easy. It was here that she had the epiphany that food was more than feeding the body but a means of emotional healing therapy.
One eats first with their eyes then it nourishes the soul.
Her passion and culinary talents did not go unnoticed. Not long after she started working with some of South Africa’s most luxurious game lodges. Sunrise breakfasts and eclectic 5-star game lodge dinners propelled her into the international culinary world.
Cheryl had many incredible opportunities to collaborate with culinary experts, chefs, and patisseries from around the world to enhance and hone her skills. Chef Cheryl not only brings professionalism and culinary excellence to every table, but her enlightened sense of food therapy is just like music, “food for the soul.”
Chef Cheryl continues her pursuit to expand her culinary knowledge daily. Her love of food and compassion for people motivated her to start a feeding project called Helping Hands where she strives to feed and help those in unfortunate circumstances.
Having the opportunity to experience Chef Cheryl’s culinary talent is not just about enjoying a delicious meal. It is about enjoying a therapeutic culinary experience.
· Chef Cheryl ·
Suncoast Cuisine
In Chef Melissa’s words:
As a professional chef for 33 years now, I grew up as an Army brat with my father serving in the military. I lived in Germany as a little kid and Kansas as a big kid. As an adult I couldn’t wait to get out of Kansas and took a job at the Walt Disney World Swan after my apprenticeship.
After multiple times moving away and returning, I couldn’t resist the magic of the Gulf of Mexico and finally settling down here in the Sarasota area to start this business.
As a private chef, I have put together an extensive service covering most tastes and interests for special occasion beach house style dining. I specifically cater to weekly vacationers, seasonal owners, and locals of parties under 12 persons.
My goal and practice is to work with each individual group of diners to create a menu that will not only offer them a fabulous night of food but also create lifetime memories of their times together.
· Chef Melissa ·
Taste and Design Catering
In Anna’s words:
Anna and Shaun, co-owners of Taste & Design, combine their expertise to deliver exceptional culinary experiences and custom design solutions. Their goal is to exceed your expectations and make every event unforgettable. Anna, originally from Newtown CT, moved to South Florida 12 years ago. She brings a wealth of hospitality experience including 12 years in corporate, non-profit and wedding planning, and catering directing to the team. Shaun, a native Floridian and accomplished executive Chef, brings extensive experience in private chef services, wine dinners, photo editorials and event catering for 10 to 500 guests.
As a dynamic Designer and Chef Duo, we approach each project with passion, creativity and dedication to excellence. Believing every job is a canvas waiting for creative brushstrokes, we merge artistic vision with culinary expertise to craft unforgettable experiences. We want to make sure our clients get to fully enjoy a wonderful meal and focus on their invited guests, while we take care of the details.
By making the process seamless, we cater every experience specifically to the client’s needs and ideas. Our focus is gathering people around a table filled with delicious food, where memories are made and moments are cherished.
When we are not in the kitchen you can find us shopping local markets, testing out new recipe ideas, and eating at local restaurants. Some of our favorite things to do in the Sarasota area: spending time with family, nurturing our gardens, strolling around Benderson Park, and enjoying the beauty of the Florida west coast beaches.
· Anna ·
Coastal Close
A personal chef on Anna Maria Island is one of those additions to a trip that sounds indulgent until you experience it, and then it becomes difficult to imagine vacationing any other way. Whether you are celebrating something special or simply want the freedom to enjoy the island without thinking about what is for dinner, these chefs make it effortless.
— izzy