About
Top Rated, Highly Experienced Personal Chef w/ A Passion for World Cuisine & Down Home Cooking
I'm Zacki Murphy, Zacki’s Culinary Creations (ZCC) founder and CEO. I'm a food stylist, Zagat-rated BBQ restaurateur and lifestyle & nutritional consultant with over 37 years experience as a professional chef. I am a Hillsborough native, an art education graduate of the University of North Carolina, and am known for my food presentations, customized baskets, and décor design. I worked for Martha Stewart as a food stylist and menu planner and was the first woman to take Lexington style BBQ (Zacki's PBQ) to the streets of NYC.
I'm now in Durham, NC, and am a personal chef who "Cooks In Your Nook" - I travel to your home and teach a participation adventure or just cook for you. I prefer small groups where it's more personal. Having traveled for many years in my former Ford model days, I learned many other cuisines. For 10+ years, my "Ancient Mediterranean Meal; Food from the Time of Jesus," has been a favorite lecture and catering event for churches and schools. I even had the pleasure of filming a lesson with the Bishop Michael Curry (before the Royal Wedding) where he even offered to wash the dishes. All of these experiences have brought me as much joy as it has been to share it!
At ZCC, we also offer team-building classes for corporations where we teach "FoodCraft" board building. ZCC corporate clients have included The Durham Symphony, Voyager Charter School, Epic Games/Fortnite, GSK & Fuji Films.
If you've got an upcoming special event, birthday party, anniversary, or just a fun get-together for friends, Zacki's Culinary Creations would welcome the opportunity to cook for you.
Cheers,
Chef Zacki
zackisculinarycreations.com
919-360-7744
Specialties
Student age(s)
Interested cuisines
Desired cooking skills
Food allergies / dietary restrictions
Number of people
Recipe difficulty
Photos and videos
Reviews
Bradley G.
Carolyn B.
John S.
Kevin S.
Gisele C.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Have an information form on my website: [email protected] it is she/he wishes to learn and their budget. This is helpful to be filled out first and then followed by an e-mail or phone call.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Epicurean Culinary School, LA
Ma Maison Cooking School with Jonathan Waxman, LA
Martha Stewart's Food Stylist and Menu Planner
Owner of Zacki's PBQ, NYC
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
It is different if a teen or adult as well as how many.
How did you get started teaching?
When I attended the University of NC as an Art Education major.