Chef Maria Leggett
Private Chef in Traverse City
I’m Maria Leggett, your Traverse City-based private chef. Fresh ingredients, scratch-made courses and a menu built around the people at your table.
Plan your eventBased in Traverse City, travelling anywhere in Michigan to plan your event around what you and your guests need.
Your personal chef in Traverse City
Looking for a personal chef in Traverse City for a celebration or a retreat? I create customized event menus for intimate dinners, boutique gatherings and multi-day stays, and travel throughout Michigan.
From Elk Rapids, Charlevoix and Manistee to Frankfort, Empire, Glen Arbor, Leland, Northport, Kingsley, Boyne City and Petoskey — I travel across Michigan to gather around your table.
Perfect for
- Vacation rental dinners
- Rehearsal dinners
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- Wine pairing nights
- Retreats
Looking for a vacation rental chef? Share your accommodation and event details so we can talk through your plans.
Intimate dinner parties
From $125 per person. A customized multi-course dinner in your home, with every course made from scratch.
Private events & boutique gatherings
Celebrations for 50 guests or fewer, with plated or family-style menus tailored to your group.
Wine pairing dinners
Curated pairings for each course, tasting guidance and cellar consultation, designed alongside your dinner menu.
Charcuterie & grazing tables
Artisan meats and cheeses, scratch-made jams and pestos, fresh bread and seasonal fruit. A standalone display or an addition to dinner.
Retreat weeks & weekends
Nourishing breakfast, lunch and dinner across your stay, shaped around your group’s schedule and dietary needs.
Planning your chef experience
Dinner parties start at $125 per person. Your menu is tailored to your occasion and your guests.
Included: groceries, cooking, table service, cleanup.
- Michigan travel
- Minimum travel fee: $150. Share your event location when you inquire.
- Booking lead time
- Please plan 30 days ahead.
- Your event details
- Share your date, venue, guest count and dining style, plus wine pairing interest and any dietary requirements.
Thoughtfully made for everyone at your table
Every menu is customizable. Share your allergies, dietary restrictions and preferences, and we’ll plan them into the meal from the start.
Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and allergy needs are planned into your menu from the start, not treated as an afterthought.
A Traverse City culinary foundation
I grew up in Traverse City and graduated from Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute in 2018. Cooking and traveling in Italy in 2017–2018 shaped my simple, flavor-first approach. My 10+ years of experience span private chef work, catering, butchery, culinary instruction and restaurants. In 2024, I received the Hospitality High Five Award for Back of House (All Venues), representing Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse.