Sitting on the patio at Field+Fort in Summerland recently, sipping one of my favorite high-caffeine drinks and enjoying a warm blueberry scone, I finally had a long-overdue reunion with private chef Robin Goldstein.
She’s cooked for me at home on several occasions, elevating dinner parties and making me look far more accomplished than I really am.
After COVID-19 interruptions and life in general, I wanted to catch up — to reconnect, make plans for future events, and see what she’s been up to.
As always, Goldstein arrived brimming with enthusiasm and creative energy.
With four decades in the food world, she has dedicated her life to culinary excellence as a private chef, caterer, cookbook author, food stylist and teacher.
Goldstein’s journey began in Washington, D.C., where she grew up in a restaurant family.
“My grandparents owned the legendary Golden Parrot Restaurant,” she told me, “a hotspot for politicians and high society.”
That early exposure gave her a front-row seat to what she calls the magic of food.
She later packed her knives for the Culinary Institute of America in New York before heading West.
After a cross-country road trip, she landed in Los Angeles and went to work for a major catering company, learning the fast-paced world of high-end events.
At Parties Plus, she cooked for 4,000 guests at a Super Bowl party, catered Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s wedding, and designed the menu for the premiere of G.I. Jane.
At 26, Goldstein and her sister founded Market Catering, becoming fixtures among Los Angeles’ elite caterers in the 1990s.
Robin Goldstein brings four decades of passion, creativity and hard-earned wisdom to everything she does — proving that a life built around food can nourish both people and possibility. Credit: privatechefrobin.com photo 
Chef Robin Goldstein has picked up a wealth of culinary techniques in her travels and career. Credit: privatechefrobin.com photo 
Robin Goldstein, a longtime private chef, caterer and cookbook author, has launched Secrets of a Private Chef, a new business program designed to help aspiring chefs turn their culinary passion into a sustainable career. Credit: privatechefrobin.com photo 
Robin Goldstein is more than a chef, and has written the book — four, actually — about her experiences. Credit: privatechefrobin.com photo
After a decade, she planned a three-month sabbatical that turned into five years of travel throughout the Mediterranean and Spain. She returned with a wealth of techniques, a trove of recipes — and a newborn baby.
That moment sparked the birth of her private chef business. Through her cookbooks and classes (which I own and have attended), you feel transported straight into a Mediterranean kitchen.
So what’s she doing now? Goldstein has created a thriving personal chef service and launched her newest venture: Secrets of a Private Chef, a business program designed to help aspiring chefs turn their culinary dreams into viable businesses.
It’s not about teaching people how to cook — it’s about how to build a sustainable private food service.
The program includes four curated modules covering branding, target markets, business planning, costing and legal requirements. Courses are offered via Zoom or in person, with hands-on assignments and mentorship.
Goldstein’s goal is simple: to remove barriers and make the path clearer.
As a woman-owned business leader in Ventura County, she’s committed to empowering future entrepreneurs — especially women — while welcoming anyone ready to step through the door.
In her words, the culinary world isn’t closed.
“It’s a revolving door,” Goldstein said. “Everyone deserves a chance to step inside.”
I just hope she still has time to cater my next dinner party.
More Judy Foreman
