A little bit about Isabella

Food is the root of how we think, feel, and move through the world.

Isabella Matterson plating a dish in her chef's jacket

I've been cooking professionally since 2016, most of those years at sea. After working through some health issues of my own, food became the thing that supported me, and I found a new love for it, as well as a way to express my creativity.

It taught me something plainly: food is the first form of care. It has the power to shift a mood, a habit, a way of living.

I cook with seasonal and fresh ingredients, everything made from scratch, with a real passion for nourishing, wholesome food. Having studied Ayurvedic foundations, I weave that way of cooking into my menus.

I'm a nature lover with endless curiosity about the natural world. I now work privately in Cape Town and abroad, on yachts, at private events and in retreat kitchens.

What I offer

Yachts & Charters

Over ten years in yacht galleys, with provisioning, menu planning and full service for owners and charter guests. Breakfast, lunch and plated dinner service, with all dietary requirements accommodated.

Private Dining & Events

Dinners at home, long tables, birthdays, supper clubs and small weddings. Sharing plates or a plated menu, designed around seasonal produce and served in your kitchen.

Retreat Kitchens

Full retreat kitchens in Cape Town and surrounding areas. Three meals a day, paced around the schedule, with an emphasis on seasonal produce and slow-cooked nourishment.

From the Kitchen
Seared beef fillet on sweet potato purée with broccolini and roast potatoes
Chocolate cake edged with berries and edible flowers
Tuna and sesame roll with soy glaze
Berry smoothie bowl with granola, cacao and edible flowers
Salmon poke bowl with mango, edamame, radish and avocado
Breakfast on deck — croissants, coffee and fruit with granola
Chocolate tart with caramel ice cream, berries and biscuit crumb
Sticky malva pudding with vanilla ice cream and mint
Prawns in a coconut and lime broth with broccoli and micro herbs
Beetroot with whipped cheese, candied walnuts and herb oil
Grazing board with cheeses, charcuterie, fruit and crudités
Crispy rice with tuna, avocado and spring onion
Mussels in a white wine and cream broth
Peach and labneh with pistachio and mint
Feta with blackberries and balsamic
Crème brûlée with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries
Tiramisu served in small glass jars with cocoa
Sesame-crusted tuna with soba noodles, pickled carrot and dipping sauce
Poached eggs over labneh with chilli oil, dill and coriander
Pan-seared fish in a garlic butter broth with spring onion and sprouts
Enquire

Let me cook for you.

Tell me a little about what you need. I'll write back within a day or two.