Michael’s story is somewhat different than most chefs. His background in the culinary world is mostly front-of-house experience—he most recently ran the bar Old Town Tap in Truckee, and before that he was the food and beverage director at Rush Creek Lodge in Yosemite, CA. Prior to those days, he achieved a Masters in Fine Arts in Portland, OR and subsequently published a book of nonfiction in 2018. All the while, Michael’s passion for food and fine dining remained very strong.

Upon moving to Truckee, he began hosting pop-ups by showing cult films and preparing food to accompany the film. The first was Kill Bill served with Japanese street food. This was followed by an extremely successful pop-up at our favorite brewery, The Good Wolf. The events quickly gained popularity among locals, and through that grassroots momentum, Michael recognized a gap in the community for high-quality, thoughtfully curated dining experiences outside of traditional restaurant settings. What began as cooking for friends naturally evolved into a thriving private dining venture, culminating in over sixty private dinners in 2022.

Building on that momentum, Michael launched a ramen pop-up at The Good Wolf and sold over 300 bowls of ramen. By continuing to refine his approach and expand his offerings, he is able to take on larger events while maintaining a thoughtful, detail-driven style—ensuring exceptional dinners for clients seeking more than what the few restaurants in Tahoe have to offer. Since then, Michael has won Best of N. Lake Tahoe & Truckee’s “Best Chef” every year since 2022 and continues to serve both locals and visitors experiencing Tahoe for the first time. He resides in Truckee with his partner and their dog, Ghost.