At the end of the day, food is love. Our best culinary experiences are those connected to precious memories – many are at home. Chef Michelle understands what it feels like to enjoy the comfort and warmth of home cooked meals, and also what it feels like to desperately miss that feeling. The earth is filled with natural, gorgeous and healing foods for us to enjoy. Our mission is to provide an exclusive culinary experience with the most beautiful ingredients from nature, and love that feels like home.
OUR APPROACH
ABOUT CHEF
Masinloc Culinary is the culmination of Chef Michelle’s life pursuits of Chefdom, serving others, and creating beautifully extravagant things. Utilizing her classical training, she celebrates her home California and honors her Philippine roots.
Chef Michelle is known for providing exceptional personal cuisine and service to the most esteemed guests. She values excellence, precision and visual appeal. Apart from her extraordinary talent, Chef Michelle is recognized for her big heart and joyous spirit.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
After graduating from the Collins College of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Chef Michelle has spent over a decade working in fine dining restaurants with Top Chef and Michael Mina alumni, luxury hotels such as The Ritz Carlton, and serving the most prestigious corporate clients at J.P Morgan & Chase, Meta, and Amazon.
Chef Michelle is seasoned in personally serving professional athletes, famous musicians, CEO’s and politicians. She’s spent her free time staging at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants throughout her culinary school and professional chef years. She’s worked in high end restaurants, bars, room service, banquets, mom & pop shops, catering, and corporate outlets. Her first experience in the kitchen was learning to cook traditional Filipino food from her mom and Lola (grandma).
While Chef respects and enjoys cooking for those with high status, she believes that all people should be served extravagantly. It’s her initiative to feed and minimize the number of those who are hungry.
What is Masinloc? Masinloc is the most special place in my heart. It’s the town in the Philippines where my late maternal grandparents are from. Deep in the majestic jungle, my grandpa built his home. He called it “Buhay” which means life. That’s exactly what I felt when I visiting. I felt life, and I felt alive.
In the main town is another custom home that my grandma built – full of intricate beauty, specific details, and dreams. Nearby you can find my favorite treat in the world – pastillas made with carabao milk – exclusively unique to that town.
It’s at Masinloc where I truly discovered and understood my identity. The abundant beauty of nature and life, with agricultural nourishment, mixed with art and creation, attention to detail and excellence, and unique identity.
While starting a new chapter in my life, I choose Masinloc as my last name, and also inspiration for my company – Masinloc Culinary.