Hi, I'm Tracy.
Credentials
- Tante Marie Cooking School — San Francisco
- Sterling College — Sydney (culinary & nutrition)
- Master's in Psychology
- Co-author, The Compassionate Kitchen
- Founder of Shefdress chef-wear
A plant-based chef, rooted in the desert.
I'm Tracy Noelle Zimmerman, a vegan private chef based in the Palm Springs area. I've spent more than 25 years in the culinary field and the last 15+ years living and cooking entirely plant-based. What started as a personal shift became my whole craft: proving, plate after plate, that vegan food can be the most exciting thing on the table.
My training spans continents. I studied at Tante Marie Cooking School in San Francisco and completed culinary and nutrition studies at Sterling College in Sydney. I also hold a master's degree in Psychology, which, it turns out, is never far from the work. Cooking for people is deeply personal, and understanding what nourishes someone, body and spirit, shapes every menu I write.
Philosophy
I cook with compassion and curiosity. Everything I make is fully plant-based, built around the seasons and the incredible produce of the Coachella Valley. I believe vegan food should never feel like a compromise, it should feel like an invitation. Generous, colorful, and a little unexpected.
I co-authored the vegan cookbook The Compassionate Kitchen and founded Shefdress, a chef-wear brand designed for women in professional kitchens. When I'm not cooking for clients, you'll usually find me at a local farm stand or testing a new recipe on friends.