My name is Riley and I am a professional chef offering my private dining, meal preparation, and event services to all new clients. I am an Ottawa local, born and raised in Kanata with a love and passion for the culinary arts. My journey has taken me through fine dining restaurants, commercial kitchens, and hotel environments, where I developed a strong appreciation for both elevated cuisine and the importance of consistency, organization, and thoughtful execution. A little over a year ago, I took a leap of faith and launched my own personal chef company, The Chef Nextdoor. This business is truly a reflection of my dream and passion — cooking for families and busy individuals in a way that brings comfort, ease, and peace of mind to their everyday lives. I understand how overwhelming daily cooking can be, and my goal is to remove that stress by providing thoughtfully prepared meals in advance, tailored to your tastes, lifestyle, and dietary needs. I believe food should be more than just nourishment — it should feel familiar, satisfying, and comforting, while still being exciting and made with care. Whether you’re looking for refined comfort food, wholesome family meals, or something a little elevated, I take pride in creating dishes that feel personal and intentional. Building genuine connections with my clients is incredibly important to me, and I approach every household with the same level of care and professionalism I would want for my own family. I would truly love the opportunity to cook for you and your family and become a trusted part of your routine, helping make mealtimes simpler, more enjoyable, and something you can look forward to each week

I knew I wanted to be a chef since a very young age. I’ve been working in commercial kitchens since the age of 15. I started my culinary journey at a small fish and chip restaurant in Kanata; now known as StrEATS. I worked there for 4 years, starting off as a dishwasher/kitchen helper and ending off as a line cool supervisor. After I left, I started working at Lone Star as a fry cook. I got promoted to headline and left Lone Star after 2 years to attend culinary school. During my first semester, I started working at the National Arts Centre as a third cook. After around 9 months at the NAC, I received an offer I could not refuse. I left the NAC and started working for the renowned Beckta Group at Play Food and Wine. I have been at play for almost 3 years now and am a senior line cook. I love what I do, I love feeding families and making people happy with my art. I have been in the private sector for about a year now and would love the opportunity to cook for you and your family

I graduated from the Culinary Management program at Algonquin College. I also have my WHMIS, OHSA, Food Handlers, and Smart Serve certifications.