Leslie Guria, Neighbor

Cooking for others has always been my passion.  I love everything about it from choosing interesting recipes to shopping for just the right ingredients to seeing the smile on my guest’s faces when they’ve finished a memorable meal I prepared just for them.  So when it was time to move on from nearly two decades of sales and marketing, I knew a career as a Personal Chef was the path for me to follow. 

I am a member of and certified through the American Personal and Private Chef Association, the US Personal Chef Association,, ServSafe Food Protection Manager certified And carry liability insurance. 

My food service experience includes working as a Personal Chef in both Chicago and Atlanta, a Chef’s Assistant at Whole Foods’ Salud Cooking School and in several restaurants including 220 Merrill, the Grand Traverse Resort and BDJ’s Deli. 

I have created and adapted recipes for special diets including Weight Watchers, Venice Nutrition, South Beach, Atkins, Vegan, Vegetarian, Kosher, American Heart Association, diabetic and as directed by dietitians.  As a former Brownie leader and Sunday school teacher, I know how to work with kids and create meals they will appreciate and enjoy.

And…as a working mom, I understand the not so subtle urge to pull over and grab Subway when you’re schlepping multiple kids to and from their sports and school activities.  Making a healthy dinner that can be adapted to everyone’s schedule and preferences after a full day of work is the last thing I have the energy to do.  If I only had a Personal Chef!