Chef Zacki Murphy
Personal Chef In DurhamGet to know me better
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 of experience as a seasoned professional chef. I am a Hillsborough native and an art education graduate of the University of North Carolina. I 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.
Now based in Durham, NC, I am the 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 the interaction can be more personal. Having traveled for many years in my former Ford-model days, I have learned the cuisines of many other countries. 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 Bishop Michael Curry (before the Royal Wedding) where he offered to wash the dishes. All of these experiences have brought much joy to the people I've served and to myself.
At ZCC, we also offer team-building classes for corporations and organizations where we teach "FoodCraft" board building. ZCC corporate clients have included The Durham Symphony, Voyager Charter School, Epic Games/Fortnite, GSK, Fuji Films, and others.
If you have an upcoming special event, birthday party, anniversary, or just a fun get-together for friends, Zacki's Culinary Creations would welcome the opportunity to offer an experience for you to remember!
*By engaging with Zacki's Culinary Creations, you are agreeing to the following:
- Cooperation in preparation and setup for the event.
- Adequate kitchen space and equipment, including utensils and cleaning supplies.
- Travel over 20mi will incur a travel fee.
- Dinner preparation, service, and cleanup greater than four hours may incur an additional charge.
There will be a more formal agreement shared once a reservations is booked.
More about me
For me, cooking is...
A blessing; a gift. I love to share & teach what has been a lifetime of learning. I can assist you with hosting & creating a delicious memory.
I learned to cook at...
I attended the Epicurean Cooking School in LA, but learned mostly from Jonathan Waxman at Ma Cuisine Cooking School.
A cooking secret...
My spice/herbal mixture called "Ancient Mediterranean Seasoning." It has 12 biblical spices & sea salt. It goes on everything but ice cream!
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