Chef Angie M

Chef Angelica is a storyteller in the kitchen, weaving history, family, and a flair for the dramatic into every dish she creates.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, she began her journey in the food world at the tender age of 13 (don’t tell anyone!) in a tiny cheese shop and café. Over the years, she worked her way from bakeries to restaurants to launching her own business, Home Slice Pies, earning her the title “The Pie Lady” of New Orleans.

Angelica’s culinary adventures span the globe. She’s cooked kangaroo burgers in Australia, rolled spring rolls in Cambodia, mastered paella with her family in Spain, and endured some playful teasing while making tortillas in Guatemala. But her proudest moments are steeped in the joy of connecting with others through food—like when a couple who met at her pop-up returned years later for her to bake the dessert for their wedding.

Angelica has cooked for an impressive lineup of celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Solange Knowles, Justin Timberlake, and Elijah Wood. She was also part of the team that opened New Orleans’ Elysian Bar, ranked #5 on Bon Appétit’s 2019 Best New Restaurants list and featured in Time Magazine’s 100 Places in the World to Visit.

For Angelica, cooking is all about community. Whether swapping stories over baked mac and cheese or finding joy in the instinctive rhythm of cooking, she believes the kitchen is where everyone belongs. It’s the heart of the home, filled with tantalizing smells, happy accidents, and tiny whisks (a personal favorite).

When she’s not creating magic in the kitchen, Angelica spends her time biking, solving crossword puzzles in sunny corners, or hanging out with her brother’s dogs. She’s a history buff, a yogi, and a movie-quote encyclopedia with a soft spot for fresh-baked banana bread.

“If at first you don’t succeed, add hot sauce.” A mantra as bold and comforting as her cooking style, it’s a perfect reflection of the chef who finds beauty in the messy, delicious art of food.