ABOUT CHEF KAI

Her approach to America’s melting pot of contemporary cooking is influenced by her native California upbringing, combined with Creole, Cuban, and Native African-American roots of International and ethnic flare. Her earliest memories are filled with the international flavors of food and music that would become her later culinary inspirations.

Kai started as a journalist, covering the biggest names in the music industry. At the top of 1988, Kai began working as a staff writer for a weekly music industry publication called the Urban Network, interviewing the top music and radio talent of the time. She then segued into music publishing at Chrysalis Music Publishing, but all the while, her true passion was revealing itself when she would literally fall asleep reading The Joy of Cooking, and spend her leisure hours dreaming up delectably healthy and creative dishes that mimicked the comforting, standard recipes she enjoyed as a child. She reached a turning point and with no back up plan, quit her job and enrolled in culinary school. 

She attended Epicurean Culinary School and was professionally trained in the art of French master cuisine at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary academy in Paris, France. She returned to Los Angeles to work in a number of restaurants such as internationally known actress Pamela Anderson’s Sanctuary, and catering companies including Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events after starting her own famed Kai Chase Catering and Kai Chase Private Chef services companies.

As a private chef, Kai first received global media attention as the personal chef to music icon, the late Michael Jackson. She was featured on numerous national media outlets such as “Larry King Live,” “CNN,” “Access Hollywood,” “Inside Edition,” “E! Entertainment,” “The Early Show,” “TV Guide,” “20/20 with Chris Cuomo,” “TLC Network,” “BET” and “Telemundo” among others. Internationally, she has been featured on media outlets in Germany, France, Japan, London, Venezuela, India, Aruba, UK, Russia and the Netherlands, just to name a few.

Her talent and passion are undeniable, and she has delighted the palates of notable figures in the worlds of music, sports, film, television and politics such as: President Barack Obama, Actor/Comedian Kevin Hart, Grammy award-winning singer, Mary J. Blige, , Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx, Grammy award-winning singer Macy Gray, TV Host, Producer, Best Selling Author and Comedian, Steve Harvey, and CNN commentator/NBA All-Star, Jalen Rose, among many others.

Now, Kai is turning her eye and her immense talent to creating an expansive culinary and lifestyle brand that includes an upcoming cookbook, exclusive live masterclasses, cuisine-based product lines, and a cooking series