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Private Chef · Culinary Consultant · Supper Club · Cooking Lessons

Food Made
to Remember

Two decades of high-level culinary craft — from Nobu Moscow to a Michelin kitchen to GoldenEye Jamaica. Based in Ojai, available everywhere.

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Nobu LA · NYC · Moscow Michelin Veteran Gorilla Pies Founder GoldenEye Resident Chef Ojai, CA Available Worldwide

The Short Version

Chef Benjamin Osher

A Southern California native shaped by the food cultures of Los Angeles, New York, Moscow, the Caribbean, and Jamaica. Over 20 years cooking at the highest levels — building teams, earning stars, launching brands, and creating unforgettable meals for clients who expect nothing less than exceptional.

20+
Years in the Industry
1
Michelin Star Kitchen
4
Countries Cooked In
3
Brands Founded

What I Offer

Services

🍽

Private Chef

Multi-course dinners prepared in your home — customized to your tastes, dietary needs, and the season. I handle shopping, prep, cooking, plating, and cleanup. Dinner parties of 2–30.

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🔥

Supper Club

Intimate communal dining experiences for groups of 6–25. Full menu design, sourcing, cooking, and atmosphere — crafted around the season, your guests, and the setting.

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👨‍🍳

Cooking Lessons

Hands-on instruction for individuals, couples, or small groups. Wood-fired pizza, pasta from scratch, knife skills, fermentation, sauce development, and more — tailored to your level.

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📋

Culinary Consulting

Menu development, concept creation, kitchen buildout, staff training, operational systems, food cost management, and brand strategy. Available for restaurants, hotels, and F&B startups.

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Project Work

Consulting & Concepts

Beyond the private kitchen — building brands, launching restaurants, designing systems, and helping operators do more with what they have.

2024 – 2025

GoldenEye Resort, Jamaica

Resident Chef / F&B Concept Launch

Recruited to launch a fine dining and artisan pizza pop-up concept at one of the Caribbean's most exclusive properties — the legendary home of Ian Fleming, curated by music icon Chris Blackwell. Designed full culinary programs for two outlets, built operational systems, trained local staff, and sourced directly from nearby farmers and fishermen. Delivered daily service for UHNW guests over a 10-week residency, then documented all recipes and procedures for seamless hand-off. The program ran independently after departure.

F&B Concept Staff Training UHNW Service Caribbean Sourcing
2021 – 2024

Gorilla Pies

Founder & Chef — Valley Village, CA

Conceived, launched, and ran a critically acclaimed artisan pizzeria specializing in Pittsburgh-style pies. Featured in Eater LA, LA Times, CBS, and FOX. Led all culinary R&D, menu development, vendor sourcing, food safety compliance, and financial oversight. After three successful years, transitioned into pop-ups, private events, and catering activations.

Concept Creation Brand Development Menu R&D Press Featured
2017 – 2020

Just+Add Beer™

Founder — CPG Sauce & Marinade Line

Conceived, tested, and launched the first sauce line designed to cook with craft beer. Partnered with a food technologist to develop commercial formulas from culinary recipes. Navigated FDA approval, manufacturing, and CPG distribution. Managed product development, production, social media, and retail strategy. Available at justadd.beer.

CPG Product FDA Approved Retail Distribution
2016 – 2020

Private Chef · Beverly Hills & Ojai

Ongoing Engagement

Long-term private chef engagements for celebrity clients from film and television. Everyday meal programs, special event catering, and dietary-specific cooking. Extensive experience with allergen management, creative problem-solving, and maintaining discretion in high-profile households.

Celebrity Clientele Dietary Management Discretion
2020

Mama Shelter Hotel LA

Executive Chef · Accor Hotel Group

Ran food operations for a boutique Accor hotel in Hollywood during COVID-19 — generating over $1M in F&B revenue from the rooftop during the pandemic. Directed multi-outlet operations, reduced food costs below 25%, managed staff, menus, and vendor relationships under extreme constraints.

Hotel F&B $1M+ Revenue Multi-Outlet COVID Operations
2016

Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts

Chef de Cuisine — Caribbean Resort

Managed operations across three food outlets for a luxury real estate and super-yacht marina development. Collaborated with James Beard–nominated chef Miles Thompson to revitalize culinary offerings, build training programs, and establish consistent operational standards in a remote Caribbean setting.

Resort F&B 3 Outlets Team Building Caribbean

On Instagram

From the Kitchen

Follow Along

Wood-fired pizza, supper clubs, private kitchens, and everything in between.

@chef_osh @gorillapies
Chef Ben Osher Nobu Borscht

The Story

From Ojai
to the World

Chef Benjamin Osher grew up in the cultural food landscape of Los Angeles — shaped by Mexican, Thai, Korean, Japanese, and everything in between. Summers in Maine eating fresh lobster. Trips to Guadalajara and Trinidad. A childhood move to Pittsburgh that introduced him to blue-collar, immigrant comfort food.

At 15 he was washing dishes. By his early 30s he was running the kitchen at Nobu Moscow, then holding a Michelin star at Junoon in New York. In between: Nobu LA, Nobu NYC, the Caribbean, and a pivot back to California to build something of his own.

Gorilla Pies. Just+Add Beer™. A residency at GoldenEye, Jamaica, cooking for some of the world's most discerning guests on a property made famous by Ian Fleming. The through-line is simple: food that connects people to place.

Work With Me

Career

Work History

2024 – 2025
Resident Chef — GoldenEye Resort, Jamaica
Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica · Chris Blackwell Property
Launched fine dining and wood-fired pizza programs for UHNW guests. Built full operational systems and trained local staff for post-residency continuity.
2021 – 2024
Founder & Chef — Gorilla Pies
Valley Village, CA · Eater LA · LA Times · CBS · FOX
Launched and ran a critically acclaimed artisan pizzeria. Led all R&D, menu development, vendor sourcing, and financial oversight. Transitioned to pop-ups and private events in 2024.
2020
Executive Chef — Mama Shelter LA (Accor Hotel Group)
Hollywood, CA
Directed multi-outlet hotel F&B during COVID-19. Generated $1M+ in revenue from the rooftop. Reduced food cost below 25%.
2017 – 2020
Founder — Just+Add Beer™ Sauce & Marinade
Los Angeles, CA · CPG Consumer Product
Conceived, developed, manufactured, and distributed an FDA-approved CPG line designed to cook with craft beer.
2017 – Present
Private Chef — Beverly Hills & Ojai, CA
Celebrity & UHNW Clientele
Ongoing private chef engagements for celebrity and high-net-worth clients. Everyday meal programs, special events, dietary management.
2016
Chef de Cuisine — Christophe Harbour Development
St. Kitts, Caribbean · w/ Chef Miles Thompson
Managed 3 food outlets at a luxury super-yacht marina and real estate development. Revitalized culinary offerings and established operational standards.
2015 – 2016
Chef de Cuisine — Junoon NYC
New York City · 1 Michelin Star · Modern Indian Fine Dining
Managed all food operations for a Michelin-starred modern Indian restaurant. Co-led food cost, labor, menu development, and special events.
2008 – 2015
Sous Chef / Executive Chef — Nobu Restaurant Group
Los Angeles (Nobu LA) · New York (Nobu 57, Next Door, Tribeca) · Moscow
Nearly a decade across multiple Nobu locations. Started at Nobu LA, then moved through Nobu New York (57, Next Door) before being promoted to Executive Chef at Nobu Moscow at age 30. Trained under Michelin-Starred Chef Mark Edwards at Nobu London.

Press & Coverage

As Seen In

Eater LA · 2021
New Pandemic Pizza Pop Up Gorilla Pies Does Pittsburgh-Style
Read Article →
Los Angeles Times · 2022
10 Great New Pizza Restaurants in L.A., Ranked by Our Critic
Read Article →
CBS News / KCAL · 2022
How The Despair Of The Pandemic Led To The Hottest New Pizza Joint In North Hollywood
Read Article →
KTLA 5 · 2022
Who Knew: Gorilla Pies in Valley Village
Watch Segment →
LAist · 2022
LAist Visits: The Corner of Whitsett and Burbank
Read Article →
LAist Pizzapedia · 2022
Where To Find The Best Regional Pizza Styles In LA
Read Article →
Ventura Blvd Magazine · 2022
Meet the Nobu-Trained Chef Behind Gorilla Pies in Valley Village
Read Article →
LA Daily News · 2022
Comfort Food Is Comforting at These San Fernando Valley Restaurants
Read Article →

Get in Touch

Let's Create Something Together

Whether it's an intimate dinner for four or a supper club for twenty, a consulting engagement, or a cooking lesson — reach out and let's talk about what you're looking for.

✉️
📞
Phone
323.445.9202
📍
Based In
Ojai, California
Available for travel · LA · NYC · Worldwide
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I typically respond within 24 hours. For urgent inquiries, call or text 323.445.9202.