3 private chefs who are captivating audiences on TikTok

Curated by Megan Collins, Cultural Anthropologist, Generational Expert and contributor to the MTD blog

It’s summertime as far as the internet is concerned, which means it’s time for “Hampton Private Chef TikTok.” One of our favorite podcasts, ICYMI dove deep into the lore last year to explain why this content is so compelling. We’re inclined to agree with their assessment that one of the main draws of the private chef's POV is that it provides escapism through a relatable lens. Yes, Meredith is in a luxurious Hamptons kitchen cooking fresh veggies she harvested from the garden, but she’s also at work. Like the viewer, these chefs are visitors (and voyeurs) into another world.

Each year, this internet niche becomes more of a community thanks in large part to content curator Pamela Wurst. On her TikTok account, Pamela closely follows this cohort of creators, puts all the content into one playlist, and provides commentary that turns this seasonal niche into a reality TV-like experience. These are three of the established and emerging stars of the private chef in the Hamptons world:

Meredith Hayden

The creator behind Wishbone Kitchen blew up on TikTok in the summer of 2022 and has since become a staple in the food-fluencer world. She’s often compared to a character in a Nancy Meyers movie in that she’s living a life that’s somehow both incredibly escapist and incredibly relatable. The former Vogue Beauty editor turned private chef became the face of the trending group of private chefs/content creators in the Hamptons gaining a following through “day in my life” content. Now, Meredith has continued to expand her brand off of TikTok with her own WishBone Kitchen website, newsletter, and YouTube channel (57.6k followers with only 3 videos) 

Rob Li

Last Summer, Rob was a fan favorite of the unofficial TikTok reality show. This year, he’s a TikTok star in his own right and has a recognizable new client: Jenna Lyons. The Real Housewife star even made a recent cameo appearance on his channel debating if Brooklyn is part of “The City.” But despite his current glamourous clientele, Rob has unconventional training. In an interview with Buzzfeed’s Michaela Bramwell he shared that, unlike many of his culinary peers, he’s actually self-taught and credits much of his knowledge to the internet: "I credit my current culinary repertoire to having watched countless cooking videos on the internet from creators both big and small.” 

Juliana White

Finally, we’re entranced by the content of food stylist and chef Juliana White. On Juliana’s page you won’t find the typical sweeping kitchen shots and Hamptons backyards. Her content is differentiated in that it’s less vlog-like and more Tasty(™) recipe video. She relies on beautiful overhead shots of the food as she prepares it. Hence her branding “plate in progress.” That said, she does take her followers along to the store and provides extra flavor about her work and what goes into it with voiceover. She’s definitely one to watch in the S2 TikTok competition this year.