I bring world cuisine and Southern roots to your table, crafting creative, caring meals for intimate dinners, celebrations, and beyond.

Zacki Murphy

I craft heartfelt, globally inspired cuisine with Southern soul

I’m Zacki Murphy, founder and CEO of Zacki’s Culinary Creations (ZCC), where I craft every dish with heart, heritage, and creativity. With more than 37 years in the kitchen as a Zagat-rated BBQ and Southern restaurateur, food stylist, and lifestyle and nutritional consultant, I blend artistry and flavor in everything I do—from food styling and custom gift baskets to elegant event décor. My path has taken me from working with Martha Stewart as a food stylist and menu planner to becoming the first woman to bring Lexington-style BBQ (Zacki’s PBQ) to the streets of New York City.

Based in Durham, NC, I’m the personal chef who “Cooks In Your Nook.” I design intimate dinners, hands-on classes, and small-group experiences that connect people through flavor and story. I also lead corporate FoodCraft team-building workshops and creative board-building sessions for organizations like The Durham Symphony, Voyager Charter School, Epic Games/Fortnite, GSK, and Fuji Films. For more than a decade, my signature program, Ancient Mediterranean Meal: Food from the Time of Jesus, has inspired audiences in churches and schools—including a memorable session filmed with Bishop Michael Curry. If you’re planning a celebration, corporate event, or private dinner, I’d love to create an experience you’ll remember long after the last bite.

Let’s plan your event

Cooking is a true blessing and lifelong gift. It lets me share what I’ve learned and create joyful, delicious experiences for others.

What I bring to your table

I cook with purpose and heart

Cooking is a true blessing and lifelong gift. It lets me share what I’ve learned and create joyful, delicious experiences for you—always with care, creativity, and intention.

I learned from acclaimed mentors

I trained at the Epicurean Cooking School in Los Angeles and refined my craft under Jonathan Waxman at Ma Cuisine Cooking School. Years of travel, food styling, and restaurant work shape how I design menus and lead immersive, hands-on experiences.

I season with a signature touch

My signature “Ancient Mediterranean Seasoning,” a blend of 12 biblical spices and sea salt, adds magic to just about everything I cook—bringing warmth, depth, and a sense of story to every plate.

Chef Zacki’s Menus

I offer curated, multi-course menus inspired by the Mediterranean, the American South, France, Italy, and Latin America. I cook in your home, tailor selections to dietary needs, and design memorable experiences for small groups, celebrations, and corporate events.

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Stories and testimonials

Zacki and her team prepared dinner for a group of friends celebrating our 60th birthdays, and it was magical. We started with mojitos and a huge tasting board featuring garlic shrimp and dips, all beautifully presented. Zacki was engaging and entertaining. She has a fascinating background. She decorated the house with candles and magnolia leaves, and all the food was delicious. Overall, it was a very special evening that we will all cherish.

Rebecca Tilbrook

Zacki and Gigi were so sweet and professional and the dishes were delicious.

Kathleen Murphy

Chef Zacki was polite, punctual and a great personal chef experience! I would definitely recommenda nd re-use her.

David Astor

As advertised! Fabulous meal and service was impeccable. Thank you, Chef Zacki and staff

Renee Hodges

Loved our experience. We would definitely try Take a Chef again.

Morgan Masten Rutherford

Chef Zacki and Francesca were great! They were attentive and kind. We loved the food and interaction. Will def book again!

Shirley Charles

Overall the dinner was ok, but the expectations did not live up to the level of money that was paid for the experience. I also need to be reimbursed $175 as there were only 4 ppl and not 5. Few things: My tiramisu was frozen solid in the middle There was flour needed for the chicken picatta, which the chef did not bring. So they needed to use my almond flour, and then we were told that the chicken would have been better if they had the right flour. I did not think that we had to provide any food. The chefs also used our bagels without asking---bagels that I bought for the company I had over and then we did not have enough in the morning for breakfast. The chefs drank a whole bottle of expensive wine---which we were not expecting. Happy to share a glass or 2, but the whole bottle was a bit much. The chef asked if we had toothpicks to serve the appetizers--again, didn't know we needed to provide toothpicks

Meghan McCrea

Chef Zacki gave us a truly memorable experience. I wanted to surprise my fiancé with something special for his birthday and she delivered beyond what I expected. She knew my 7 year old son would be with us as well and really engaged us in a fun activity of making a beautiful board which we then enjoyed while she cooked us a delicious meal followed by a divine and decadent dessert. I highly recommend this experience!

Saba Khan

Chef Zacki made my wife's birth one to remember. From a detailed conversation about the menu options to helpful notes on how to make the evening special, Zacki was a wonderful help leading up to the event. Early in the process, I mentioned to Zacki that my 8 year old son would be present for the event, but would be eating beforehand (since his palette is more inclined to chicken nuggets and burgers at his age). Zacki offered to engage him in the cooking process on the night of the event, but what followed defied even my highest hopes! My son was enthralled by the entire process and Zacki had him joyfully helping to serve and prepare the dinner. The meal was French cuisine and was no less phenomenal. It was such a pleasure to have Zacki and her team in our home. Thank you!

Justin Pierce

The chef and her two assistants were professional and engaging. The food was served on the plates and well arranged. The four courses were spaced out so there was plenty of time to appreciate each one and allowed for good dinner conversation. Each course was very good and complemented each other. The overall experience was excellent.

Kevin Cox