Hometown
Antioch, California
Chef Bio
Daniella Malfitano is a multi-faceted chef, host, health coach, and author, and a true culinary entrepreneur. For the past decade she has worked nationally and internationally with several industry-leading companies as wellness expert, thought leader, and passionate educator. A few of her most notable clients include The Walt Disney Company, Kaiser Permanente, CulinartMedia, SFMTA, QuinStreet, and Saban Brands. After 10 years of cooking, consulting and restaurant management in some of the best restaurants in the country including Chef Gabrielle Hamilton’s Prune and Chef Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Chef Daniella left F&B operations to enter the world of culinary media. In 2011 she co- hosted the national syndicated radio program “On The House” as the Resident Chef. In 2012 she wrote and produced the television show “Delicious Discoveries with Chef Daniella Malfitano” on PBS for the Northern CA market. She went on to publish several cookbooks, a top-rated culinary app called “Cook Italian with Daniella Malfitano”, and appeared on Harry Connick Jr’s daytime talk show “Harry” as the San Francisco culinary expert. Today Chef Daniella serves as a board member for the California Avocado Commission and the California Blueberry Commission and is a brand ambassador for brands like Verlasso sustainable Salmon, Cangshan Cutlery, Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea, and has represented other culinary brands like LoveTheWild. Since 2015 Chef Daniella has been the Host and a Producer at The Walt Disney Company’s Disney California Adventure® Food & Wine Festival, where she interviews America’s best chefs and cooks and dances in the kitchen with KIDS every springtime at Disney California Adventure®! Chef Daniella is a graduate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and was awarded with highest honors as a distinguished leader of her coaching program for her commitment to education and for creating a health focused family friendly edu-tainment YouTube series about cooking and mindful living called My Choice Kitchen! This series explores cultivating a colorful, joy-filled life through food! My Choice Kitchen highlights the value of making healthy choices in the kitchen and BEYOND, and empowers young people to love, know, and connect with food for life!
How long have you been working with Big City Chefs?
Since 2012
If I were a spice, I would be…
Cinnamon, because I like warmth not only in my food, in people as well! 🙂
My favorite local purveyors, artisans, and farmers:
I love locally produced California produce, especially the California Avocado!
What I love about cooking and hospitality…
I’ve been a chef for my entire career and as much as I’ve always loved my industry, I’ve always felt that there is something BIG missing as it relates to people knowing, cooking, and using food in a healthy and balanced way. I come to every project or event and every client that I take on with an open heart and a passion to support them in their health! I love finding bio-individual ways to support one to be successful by identify the specific types of routines that will help guide someone toward lasting health. I work with clients to identify what types foods to eat, or recipes to try, and I love recommending good books and podcasts, and the right food products to know how to shop for and cook with. I also have a passion for integrating movement practices, gratitude practices, and mindfulness practices into someone’s wellness plan because I have seen time and time again the power of pure positive intention.
What are your top three go-to pantry items?
Raw and roasted nuts of every kind, almond flour, and decaf coffee!
