Throughout her life, Chef Lynn Michelle has always believed that food brings people together. Her experiences living all over the world — as well as her formal training in Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University — not only opened her eyes to a wide range of different culinary styles and flavors, but enabled her to craft her culinary skills in a truly unique style. Her love of good food, combined with the diversity of environments, people and ideas she experienced while living in different places throughout the world, have shaped Chef Lynn Michelle into a chef who truly brings something unique to the table.
From working as a private chef in Belgium (where she also worked at the International School learning to cook in different styles for students from all over the world) to her role as Executive Chef at two Bed & Breakfasts in the Beaufort County area, to working at some of the Lowcountry’s most popular restaurants, Chef Lynn Michelle has spent her professional career nurturing her love of cooking – while also using her culinary creations to nurture her many clients throughout the world. Through the years, she has truly engulfed herself in cooking for others – preparing meals whenever and wherever she could, and cooking for everyone she knows (including her kids and their sports teams.) Every path Chef Lynn took throughout her lifetime always led her back to her love of food and passion for cooking – and is what led her to discovering her true calling as a personal chef.
Today, as The East Coast Chef®, Chef Lynn Michelle uses the “culinary flavors and flair” that she gained through her extensive travels in order to create the perfect meal for every occasion – delighting families of all sizes through her passion for cooking and commitment to creating a truly unique culinary experience. Through her role as The East Coast Chef®, Chef Lynn Michelle prides herself on culinary creations that are not identified with a single place, ethnicity or cooking style – but rather reflect the different tastes, flavors, ingredients and styles she’s learned about having lived in ten states and in Europe.
Chef Lynn Michelle is a member of the Private and Personal Chef Association and is Serv-Safe certified. A resident of Hilton Head Island, she also serves as an Advisory Board Member/Culinary Artist at the Bluffton Boundary Gallery & Art Studio, as well as an Advisory Board Member for the not-for-profit organization “A Call to Action”. Since 2011, she also has served as the Personal Chef of choice for Hilton Head Heroes Board Member Fundraiser, a not-for-profit organization bringing families with children suffering from life threatening illnesses to Hilton Head Island for a resort vacation.
About the East Coast Chef® Team
Ronald Brown
Executive Chef Ronald Brown is an Executive Chef bringing many years of culinary training and experience to his role working with Chef Lynn Michelle. A graduate of the prestigious Johnson & Wales University, he is responsible for Leadership and Team Development, Menu and Recipe Development, Execution of Events, Strategic Planning and Implementation. Ronald brings his passion for cooking to his role as Executive Chef, where he works closely with Chef Lynn Michelle on all culinary aspects of the business — and loves creating unique and stunning menus that leave lasting impressions in the mind, heart and palate of guests.
Ronald studied Culinary Arts, Hotel Food and Beverage Management and Hotel Restaurant Institutional Management at Johnson & Wales, where he received his BS in Hotel Restaurant Institutional Management. In addition, he received his Certification of Brewing Technology at Siebel Institute. He is a Certified Dietary Manager/Certified Food Protection Professional and received his NRA ServSafe Manager Certification and is an NRA ServSafe Instructor/Proctor
Ronald is a member of the National Restaurant Association, the American Culinary Federation and the Piedmont Culinary Guild. Other than Chef Lynn Michelle, Ronald’s favorite celebrity chef is Alton Brown – and the favorite thing he has ever eaten are his grandmother’s Maryland Crab Cakes. His favorite movie is The Blues Brothers, and his favorite color is red.
Janie Friend
Assistant Chef Janie Friend is an Assistant Chef who works closely with Chef Lynn Michelle to enthusiastically and expertly assist with all prep work and cooking. In addition, she also offers etiquette classes and various visual forms to use for social media.
Janie’s experience includes many years of entertaining in her home on a personal level, as well as planning many charity events for the Junior League and Christ Child Society. With her longtime passion for cooking and entertaining, she notes that her favorite part of the job is being with clients and giving them a truly spectacular culinary experience.
She received a BS in Art Education with a minor in Business Marketing from Iowa State University, and has received additional training through a number of Dale Carnegie Sales and Management courses and a Sales Seminar from Boston College. Aside from Chef Lynn Michelle, her favorite celebrity chef is the Barefoot Contessa, and her all-time favorite food is the 12 Layer Lasagna from Vince’s Italian Restaurant in Detroit. Her favorite movie is The Sound of Music and her favorite color is green.
Catherine Miller
Assistant to Chef Lynn Michelle Catherine (Cathie) Miller is a Chef’s Assistant, working closely with Chef Lynn Michelle on all Food Shopping, Prepping Foods, Sweet Potato Biscuits, and whatever else Chef Lynne Michelle needs in preparing and serving the perfect meal to clients and their guests. She brings her passion for cooking and trying new recipes to her role as Chef Lynn Michelle’s valuable assistant – where she notes her favorite part of the job is meeting the families and their friends we are cooking for, and seeing how all the planning and preparation flawlessly comes together!
Cathie’s love of cooking began when she first got married and moved into her first apartment – where her husband invited all the friends who helped move them in for a dinner party that evening, and she had to learn very quickly how to cook – reading cookbooks and picking out recipes to make for that evening. The food turned out great that night and she found that cooking is very relaxing — and has enjoyed reading cookbooks and trying new recipes ever since (hosting many social and business dinner parties since that first event!)
Cathie, who is captain for a USTA tennis team, also has training as an x-ray technologist and studied at Penn State University. Noting that she has “too many favorite foods to name just one”, her favorite celebrity chef is The Barefoot Contessa. Her favorite movie is Under the Tuscan Sun, and her favorite colors are blues and pinks.
Patty Fitzgerald
Grill Lighter and Jack-of-all-TradesPatty Fitzgerald is the Grill Lighter and Jack-of-all-Trades working closely with Chef Lynn Michelle on all aspects of the business – and works to do anything and everything to make everything run smoothly and work as part of the team dedicated to providing outstanding culinary services to all clients. Patty has more than 10 years of experience in the catering industry, and truly loves the family feeling of being part of a team and learning how to do most aspects of every job. Her favorite part of the job is working with clients to make their event successful, and to take care of all of the details needed to ensure a seamless culinary experience.
Patty, who has a Bachelor’s degree in business, notes that her favorite celebrity chef aside from Chef Lynn Michelle is Julia Child, and her all-time favorite meal is Sea Bass (caught fresh herself and grilled!) Her favorite movie is Overboard, and her favorite color is blue.
