Chef Michelle D. van Hees

At the heart of every unforgettable gathering is a table where people linger, stories unfold, and time seems too slow. Chef Michelle van Hees believes dining is more than a meal--it is an experience shaped by care, beauty and intention. With decades of refined private service and a deep love of hospitality, she creates moments meant to be savored, remembered and shared.

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Chef Michelle van Hees began her culinary journey more than twenty-five years ago, following her formal training in culinary school and life at sea aboard private yachts. Traveling from port to port, she cooked and tasted the cuisines she had once only read about, allowing the world itself to shape her palate. It was during these years that she discovered her true calling--not only in the food she prepared, but in the experience surrounding it: the quiet beauty of a well-set table, the rhythm of service and the way atmosphere transforms a meal into a memory.

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Her path eventually led back to land, where she served as executive chef to Hollywood icon Bob Hope. Immersed in the tradition of silver service, Chef Michelle spent seven years crafting five-star meals for intimate family gatherings, distinguished guests and dignitaries. In this rarefied world, she refined her ability to deliver elegance with ease, precision without pretense.

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Drawn to the Pacific Northwest, Chef Michelle later made her home in Portland, where work expanded beyond the kitchen and into the full expression of hospitality. She began working with the Schnitzer family as their estate manager and chef and went on to design and manage elaborate events, layering food, florals, candlelight and tablescapes into a seamless whole. From the first arrival to the final bite, every detail was considered and nothing was accidental.

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Today, Chef Michelle brings this philosophy to each table she touches. Whether creating an intimate micro-wedding, a candlelit plated dinner, or a thoughtfully styled gathering of family and friends, her approach is deeply personal and quietly luxurious. She believes that the most meaningful meals are those that feel both effortless and unforgettable--and she is honored to create those moments for you.