Patty Zagorski

Chef Patty Zagorski brings over 20 years of high-end food service experience and a decade of educational leadership to the Institute of Culinary Education. His diverse career spans fine dining, multi-venue high-volume hospitality operations, national television production, and comprehensive curriculum design. After earning an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts from Lane Community College, Chef Patty quickly elevated through the ranks of prominent Southern California kitchens. 

He refined his approach to high-standards fine dining at Allumette, expediting the service that landed the restaurant a spot on food critic Jonathan Gold's coveted top 10 list. His operational expertise covers everything from advanced charcuterie techniques to managing multi-venue production. Over the course of his career, he has served as Executive Chef at Cafe Birdie, Executive Sous Chef at Osso — collaborating with Chefs Nick Montgomery and Akira Akuto of Konbi fame — and prep lead for Park Hospitality, where he managed operations for top-tier establishments like Bar Flores, rated the #2 bar in the nation by Food & Wine.Transitioning his expertise to media production, Chef Patty spent years as a Culinary Producer for the Hallmark Channel's daily national broadcast, Home and Family. 

In this role, he directed food photography styling, engineered and tested recipes, and managed seamless on-camera cooking segments alongside executive producers, celebrity chefs, and talent. Dedicated to mentorship, he also served as a Culinary Enrichment Instructor for ARC Enrichment, where he engineered a specialized baking and pastry curriculum implemented across Los Angeles Unified School District high schools.In the classroom, Chef Patty connects technical precision with industry trends, encouraging students to study both modern methods and culinary history. He guides aspiring chefs using foundational texts and resources, including Harold McGee’s On Food and Cooking, Michael Ruhlman’s Ratio, Claire Saffitz's Dessert Person, Andy Ricker's Pok Pok Cookbook, and the digital series Tasting History.