Palm Springs Private Chef

I shared some lively moments with Chef Gordon Ramsay on the MasterChef set - an unforgettable experience that pushed my creativity and humor to new heights.

“Stephen had one of the most memorable and outgoing personalities in MasterChef history. He was very well known for his quirky, energetic, and unpredictable attitude, often raising his voice in excitement and making everyone laugh with his loud and sarcastic humor.

In Season 6, he was extremely confident, passionate, and a force to be reckoned with. He is arguably considered to be the strongest cook of the season with his versatility and strong leadership skills.”

~ MasterChef Wiki

My culinary adventure began at my first job, Ave. Ristorante, an Italian joint in Seattle’s University district. I was busing tables until the owner, Bruno Pacci, was short staffed and threw me into the kitchen to toss dough and throw together pizza pies.

As a youth, my gypsy lifestyle lead me to gain experience cooking different cuisine types and in a wide range of environments. I have cooked on farms, in small diners, and for the Michelin rated Ritz-Carlton. I studied cooking techniques in the great culinary city of Rome and have additional experience cooking Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. Over the years, I have owned and operated two restaurants and spent years working on sustainable farms.

In 2015 I was a finalist on FOX’s MasterChef, Season 6. My MasterChef experience was a capstone in my culinary journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared my passion with a national audience and to have learned from some of the best in the world.

My mission is to cook delicious food, honestly prepared, using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. ~ Chef Stephen Lee

I appeared on MasterChef on FOX, Season 6, where my vibrant personality and farm-to-table approach earned national attention. Those experiences continue to inspire my work today at Food Dept. in Palm Springs - creating unforgettable meals and experiences for private dinners, events and celebrations throughout the Coachella Valley.

Questions?