Katie Ficke
Boynton Beach,FL
Summary
Private Chef with 10+ years of experience in luxury yachting both private/charter programs, and UHNW service. Known for refined, health-conscious, and personalized menus, polished presentation, discretion, and calm execution in high-pressure private environments. Now transitioning into a land-based private chef role, bringing yacht-level standards, thoughtful menu planning, provisioning expertise, dietary accommodations, and intuitive guest care to a private family, estate, or executive household.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Rotational Head Chef
149' Motor Yacht Norma Jean
03.2024 - Current
- Lead culinary operations for a busy private and charter program, preparing daily meals for guests and crew while maintaining high standards of timing, presentation, organization, and consistency.
- Plan menus around owner preferences, guest needs, dietary restrictions, itinerary changes, and provisioning availability to create a seamless dining experience.
- Manage galley systems, inventory, cleaning standards, prep schedules, and service execution in a fast-paced luxury environment.
- Bring yacht-level organization, discretion, and attention to detail to service standards suited for private homes, estates, and UHNW households.
Seasonal Charter Chef
140' Motor Yacht Fortitude
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Executed multiple successful charters for up to 12 guests and 8 crew, delivering consistent, polished dining experiences.
- Coordinated guest preference sheets, menu planning, provisioning, crew meals, and daily service with a flexible, guest-first approach.
- Developed flexible menus for entertaining, family-style service, special requests, and varied dietary preferences.
- Invited back as resident freelance chef following strong satisfaction from guests, captain, and crew.
Sole Chef
120' Delta
08.2022 - 02.2023
- Planned and executed daily menus, provisioning, prep, service, and galley organization independently.
- Adapted meals to guest preferences, dietary needs, weather, itinerary, and product availability throughout the Bahamas season.
- Served up to 8 guests and 6 crew while maintaining quality, timing, cleanliness, and personalized service standards.
Seasonal Sous Chef
189' Feadship - M/Y W
12.2021 - 07.2022
- Supported the head chef during charters and owner trips aboard a high-standard luxury program.
- Prepared mise en place, plated dishes, supported provisioning, and helped maintain smooth service flow.
- Contributed to guest and crew meals with attention to presentation, timing, and consistency.
- Strengthened team-based service, refined plating, and luxury guest expectation management.
Sole Chef
185' Damen - M/V Shadow
08.2020 - 11.2021
- Sole chef aboard a 55-meter support vessel connected to a 70-meter motor yacht.
- Managed all culinary operations independently, including menu planning, provisioning, guest meals, crew meals, storage systems, and galley standards.
- Acted as primary chef for family and guests during construction of the new mothership.
- Prepared meals for up to 17 people, accommodating family, guests, crew, overflow guests, and additional personnel.
- Balanced family-style meals, staff meals, and guest entertaining while adapting to changing daily needs.
Sole Chef / Crew Chef
150' Feadship - M/Y Daybreak
09.2018 - 07.2020
- Managed daily menu planning, provisioning, crew nutrition, prep, service, and galley organization.
- Prepared meals for up to 8 guests during chase boat trips, maintaining high-quality service in a compact, mobile setting.
- Prepared daily meals for 9 crew aboard Daybreak while supporting guest-facing trips on chase boat Maverick.
- Established consistency, cleanliness, timing, and strong crew morale in a live-in working environment.
Private Villa Chef
Private Villa - Barbados
05.2017 - 05.2018
- Prepared daily family and guest meals with tailored menus for a private estate setting.
- Managed culinary needs discreetly and consistently, with strong understanding of private household dynamics and expectations.
- Coordinated with household and interior staff to enhance service flow and maintain an organized kitchen aligned with family preferences.
- Worked as sole chef for a private family in Barbados, maintaining high culinary and service standards.
Education
Culinary Trained -
Technical And Career Education Center
Virginia Beach, VA06-2009
Skills
- Private household service
- UHNW guest care
- Menu planning
- Seasonal menu design
- Dietary accommodations
- Provisioning & inventory
- Refined plating
- Family-style dining
- Entertaining menus
- Crew & staff meals
- Food safety standards
- Discreet service
CULINARY STYLE
Fresh, flexible, and guest-focused. Comfortable preparing clean, health-forward meals as well as elegant entertaining menus, seafood, Mediterranean spreads, Caribbean-inspired dishes, composed salads, bowls, grilled proteins, soups, risottos, brunches, desserts, comfort food, and polished family-style service. My food is thoughtful, beautiful, satisfying, and tailored to the preferences, pace, and style of each household or occasion.
Additional Luxury Yachting & Culinary Experience
- Over Yonder Cay Private Island, Exumas — Service and housekeeping in a private-island setting
- S/Y Bidadari, 120' Phinisi Schooner — Indonesia surf charter start-up, operations, interior training, crew systems
- S/Y Aurora M, 65' Oyster — Chef, first mate, villa chef, and provisioner
- S/Y Pride, 57' Lagoon — Chef/first mate for back-to-back BVI charters
- S/Y Don Chris, 150' Sailing Yacht — Service stewardess, Mediterranean private/charter program
- S/Y Mashua Bluu, 100' Catamaran — Service, housekeeping, and crew cooking
- M/Y Cocoa Bean, 240' Trinity — Service, housekeeping, laundry, wine/liquor inventory
- M/Y Feeing Free, 112' Westport — Second stewardess, early yachting foundation role
Certification
- Culinary Trained - Vo Tech Academy, Virginia
- Gold Key Professional Hospitality Certified
- Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety
- STCW 95
- ENG1
Timeline
Rotational Head Chef
149' Motor Yacht Norma Jean
03.2024 - Current
Seasonal Charter Chef
140' Motor Yacht Fortitude
05.2023 - 08.2023
Sole Chef
120' Delta
08.2022 - 02.2023
Seasonal Sous Chef
189' Feadship - M/Y W
12.2021 - 07.2022
Sole Chef
185' Damen - M/V Shadow
08.2020 - 11.2021
Sole Chef / Crew Chef
150' Feadship - M/Y Daybreak
09.2018 - 07.2020
Private Villa Chef
Private Villa - Barbados
05.2017 - 05.2018
Culinary Trained -
Technical And Career Education Center