About Chef Joel

Chef Joel Rodgers brings a lifelong passion for food, storytelling, and connection to every kitchen he enters. Before fully dedicating himself to cooking, Joel spent more than two decades as a television producer, creating hundreds of programs watched by millions of viewers. While he excelled in that world, food had always been his true passion. A few years ago, he decided to pursue it fully — embracing the belief that when you love what you do, it never truly feels like work.

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Joel’s relationship with cooking began early, running the kitchen in an upscale family dining restaurant outside Boston as a teenager for nearly three years. That early experience taught him the rhythm of the kitchen and the joy of preparing meals that bring people together. Today, his cooking is rooted in vibrant, seasonal ingredients and strong relationships with local farmers and artisanal producers. Joel frequents farmers markets throughout Malibu, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica...sourcing fresh ingredients that reflect the beauty and abundance of Southern California.

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In 2025 & 2026, Joel has served as the head chef at The Ashram Malibu, one of the longest-running wellness retreats in the United States. There he adapted his cooking style to meet the retreat’s vegan philosophy while maintaining the vibrant, nourishing approach that defines his food. Guests and staff alike have marveled at the level that Chef Joel has elevated the food offered at the luxury retreat.

 

Joel was also a founding member of School of Lunch, a company dedicated to transforming school lunch programs into nutrient-dense, farm-to-table experiences for children. Working with farmers and local food purveyors, the program helped students better understand and appreciate the food they eat.

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Today Joel works as a private chef for families throughout Malibu and the surrounding communities, preparing both individually plated and family-style meals designed to nourish, delight, and bring people together around the table.

 

Known for his warmth, charisma, and genuine love of food, Joel believes cooking should be joyful, beautiful, and deeply connected to the ingredients and landscapes around us. At the heart of everything he prepares is a simple philosophy: food should be clean, vibrant, nourishing, and made with love.