Creative Chef dedicated to making every meal a celebration to remember. Let’s create a lasting culinary memory together.

Lance Campbell

Chef Lance: My Culinary Journey

I have over 30 years of experience working in some of the finest dining establishments across the Monterey Peninsula, San Francisco, Carmel, New Orleans, and Louisville. I’ve served as a cuisine chef, sous chef, and chef de partie, collaborating with many of the area’s top executive chefs. I also co-owned a brunch restaurant in San Francisco’s Lower Nob Hill. My passion for food has taken me around the world, and now I bring my love for fresh, healthy cooking to private clients, events, and celebrations across Pebble Beach, Carmel, San Francisco, and Pacific Grove.

My experience includes working at Bernardus Spa & Lodge and the Stone Pine Estate Château, as well as private events alongside renowned chefs like Dominique Crenn. Each project has shaped my culinary approach — refined, creative, and focused on excellence.

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Fresh ingredients, herbs, and proteins are the soul of every dish. I master every technique and listen to my clients’ tastes — because food without wine is a corpse.

My Culinary Philosophy

Culinary Passion

Cooking is my livelihood and my greatest joy. Being creative and making people smile through food is what drives me — from comforting classics to refined fine dining.

Experience and Learning

My culinary journey includes time at Bernardus Spa & Lodge and Stone Pine Estate Château, as well as collaborations with renowned chefs such as Dominique Crenn. Each experience refined my craft and deepened my respect for culinary artistry.

My Secret Ingredient

I rely on fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and precise techniques — guided by instinct, tradition, and a love for excellence in every plate.

Chef Lance's Menus

Menus crafted with creativity, precision, and a passion for unforgettable dining experiences.

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Testimonials and Success Stories

Chef Lance composed a delicious menu and was very flexible with the changes I needed to make. He was very responsive and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious and the event was a success!

Patricia Moldt

Excellent job for a Birthday surprise. Punctual, extremely kind and attentive. Food was delicious. Clean up prompt & complete. Grateful for Lance in making the special day wonderful!

Debra

We hired Chef Lance to cater a private event for 30 guests and could not have been happier. The food was outstanding — creative, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully plated — with clear attention to high-quality ingredients and balanced flavors across courses. Service was professional and seamless: the chef and team arrived on time, set up quietly, kept the table flowing, accommodated dietary requests, and maintained excellent timing between courses. Guests repeatedly complimented both taste and presentation. Pricing felt fair for the level of skill and service delivered. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a polished, stress-free dining experience for a mid-size private event.

Ann Watson

Lance was a true character and excellent chef. He was considerate with the menu for both allergies and preferences, and it was sorted within a few messages of initial contact. He came with stories and michelin-quality food. He cooked efficiently, and left the kitchen spotless, with days worth of delightful leftovers. The hits were the cocktails throughout, and the banana foster. I would absolutely hire Lance again.

Leif Raptis-Firth

Excellent experience! Made our anniversary dinner very special!

Lisette Zarzalejo

Lance was so personable and friendly, we would definitely hire him again. He was professional and his food was fun and delicious. From plating to serving, to cleaning up, the entire event was delightful!

Yumi Ando

Great Chef highly recommended

Daniel Tickell

Chef Lance created an excellent culinary experience for our group of 8 adults and toddler. The colossal meat and cheese board combined great flavors with colorful aesthetics. The juicy filet mignon and fresh caught halibut surrounded by sweet root vegetables anchored our amazing meal. Finally, Chef Lance served a luscious peach strudel and vanilla ice cream to cap off an outstanding experience. We highly recommend Chef Lance!

John Zic

Chef Lance delivered a great experience for my family. He was on time, well prepared, seemingly felt home in our kitchen immediately and created a delicious lunch menu for my wife's birthday. He showed great attention to detail by actively including my kids (9 and 11) into the menu and focusing some of the dishes just on them. The double blanched fries were a huge hit with the kids. His presentation was thoughtful and he made the overall experience very enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend Chef Lance and will consider him again for the next occasion.

Daniel Kroeger

Delicious birthday dinner for 2! Chef was very attentive and created an amazing 5 course meal

Kayla Sippin

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a private chef experience with Chef Lance cost?

The average menu price for Chef Lance is 159.40 USD per person. Final pricing may vary depending on the menu, number of guests, and event details.

What type of cuisine does Chef Lance cook?

Chef Lance offers Seafood/Fish, Mediterranean, Japanese and Chef's special cuisine for private dining experiences.

Where does Chef Lance offer private chef services?

Chef Lance offers private chef services in Carmel-By-The-Sea, US.

Which occasions can I book Chef Lance for?

You can book Chef Lance for Birthday, Family reunion, Bachelor/Bachelorette, Friends gathering, Romantic night, Corporate and Foodie adventure, depending on availability and the event details.

How do I book this private chef experience?

Choose a menu, share your event details, and the Take a Chef team will help confirm the experience with the chef.

Carmel-By-The-Sea, California 93923

Chef Lance Campbell

Creative Chef dedicated to making every meal a celebration to remember. Let’s create a lasting culinary memory together.

Chef Lance: My Culinary Journey

My Culinary Philosophy

Culinary Passion

Experience and Learning

My Secret Ingredient

Chef Lance's Menus

Seafood/fish

Mediterranean Exclusive

Mediterranean

Japanese

Surprise

Testimonials and Success Stories

Frequently Asked Questions