The Coastal Table was born at home in San Clemente, California, where coastal living, strong community, and a love of good food naturally intersect. Founded by two local couples, our goal is simple: to create chef-led cooking experiences that feel welcoming, social, and rooted in the joy of gathering around the table.
At the heart of The Coastal Table is our Head Chef, Kelly, whose passion for cooking and teaching shapes every class. With nearly two decades of culinary experience, she brings both skill and warmth to the kitchen, creating an environment where cooks of all levels can feel inspired.
Kelly studied French cuisine and pâtisserie at the Art Institute in Santa Monica and later at the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York City, refining her craft under chefs and pastry experts with deep roots in traditional technique. Her career includes work as a pastry chef and private chef, catering and menu development, specialty cake design, and even a season cooking for Olympic athletes as the Team Chef and nutritionist for the U.S. Water Polo Team during their training for the 2012 London Games. She has also appeared on the Food Network and collaborated with chefs, athletes, and industry professionals across a range of culinary settings.
Despite the classical foundation, Kelly’s style is distinctly laid-back and coastal. She
believes exceptional food doesn’t have to feel pretentious—just thoughtful, delicious, and meant to be shared. Her classes are social, hands-on, and rooted in hospitality, inviting home cooks to feel confident, curious, and genuinely connected to the process of making food.
Today, Kelly brings this blend of fine-dining technique and relaxed California sensibility to The Coastal Table, creating chef-led cooking experiences that feel both elevated and welcoming—where great ingredients, beautiful technique, and the joy of gathering naturally meet.