Gene Gerrard

Gene Gerrard is a former writer for The Spruce, contributing articles and recipes on meat and wild game for over three years. Gene was raised in Framingham, Massachusetts, and after graduating from college, he took the first step in his culinary education by traveling to Russia, where he was inspired to recreate the French-influenced cuisine of the czars. He immersed himself in French cooking, training in the classic preparations of Le Cordon Bleu. He then traveled to Italy, and under the tutelage of Chef Massimo Natale, he focused on authentic Italian cuisine, particularly the specialties of Rome and Emilia-Romagna.

Gene has presented culinary techniques at the Fancy Food Show, Natural Foods Expo West, and the AARP National Convention, and has appeared as a guest chef on a local California cooking show. In 2006, he became the owner-chef of Divoon Dining, a private dining and special event planning service.​

In 1997, he had the opportunity to meet his culinary hero, Julia Child, who encouraged him to be "a fearless chef, which is just how a chef should be!"

Gene Gerrard earned his bachelor's degree with honors at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He is certified as a professional personal chef by the U.S. Personal Chef Association.

Awards and Publications

In 2016, Gene was voted one of the Top 5 Personal Chefs in Los Angeles by Expertise, a research service identifying top professionals.

He writes reviews of kitchen items for Your Best Digs, a website featuring product information and recommendations, and has made appearances as a guest chef on "Community Cooking," a local TV show in Southern California.