Chef Onyinyechukwu Akpa

Chef At Home in San Diego

I’m Chef Onyi, a San Diego-born Nigerian chef with a deep passion for blending the rich flavors of West African cuisine with global influences. My culinary journey has taken me across the U.S.—from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Houston, and now back to San Diego—expanding my food palette and expertise along the way.

I have had the opportunity to cook for and work with celebrity clients and have been awarded ’Most Innovative Chef’ by Houston Style Magazine, along with being featured in Eater & Texas Monthly. I also run a traveling catering business called ‘The Kitchen Finesser’ that I started back in 2017 as well as a pop up dinner series ‘Dinner with Strangers’

For me, cooking is...

Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a wellness-focused meal plan, or a vibrant pop-up event, I bring a refined yet soulful touch to every dish.

I learned to cook at...

Southern Nevada college, Award winning kitchens in Houston, and in my Mom's kitchen since I was 9 years old

A cooking secret...

Celebrating bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and cultural storytelling.

My menus

Tide & Table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Seafood Carpaccio

Israeli Salad (vegetarian)

Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini (vegetarian)

Stuffed Mushrooms (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Salmon with Chermoula Sauce

Lobster Gnocchi with Saffron Cream Sauce

Truffle Risotto (vegetarian)

Salmon Tartare with Crème Fraîche & Chive Blinis – Fresh, finely diced salmon mixed with shallots, capers, and lemon, served on warm mini blinis with a dollop of crème fraîche

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Branzino al Limone

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs (vegetarian)

Golden Turmeric Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds and Raisins (vegetarian)

Slow-Braised Moroccan Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Preserved Lemon

DESSERT

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Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Tuscan Indulgence

STARTER

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Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini (vegetarian)

Hummus Trio with Pita and Crudités (vegetarian)

Israeli Salad (vegetarian)

Seafood Carpaccio

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pappardelle al Cacao with Braised Short Rib Ragu

Truffle Risotto (vegetarian)

Grilled Salmon with Chermoula Sauce

Lobster Gnocchi with Saffron Cream Sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Branzino al Limone

Osso Buco with Gremolata

Golden Turmeric Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds and Raisins (vegetarian)

Slow-Braised Moroccan Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Preserved Lemon

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Ocean’s Catch

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Seafood Carpaccio

Hummus Trio with Pita and Crudités (vegetarian)

Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini (vegetarian)

Israeli Salad (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Branzino al Limone

Grilled Salmon with Chermoula Sauce

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs (vegetarian)

Golden Turmeric Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds and Raisins (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Chef’s Secret

STARTER

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Gougères with Truffle Honey (vegetarian)

Seafood Carpaccio

Israeli Salad (vegetarian)

Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Filet Mignon au Poivre with Pommes Purée & Haricots Verts

Branzino al Limone

Golden Turmeric Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds and Raisins (vegetarian)

Slow-Braised Moroccan Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Preserved Lemon

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Mediterranean Breeze

STARTER

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Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini (vegetarian)

Hummus Trio with Pita and Crudités (vegetarian)

Israeli Salad (vegetarian)

Za’atar Spiced Chicken Skewers with Lemon-Garlic Dipping Sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Branzino al Limone – Mediterranean sea bass, pan-seared with lemon butter and capers, served with roasted garlic potatoes

Slow-Braised Moroccan Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Preserved Lemon

Golden Turmeric Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds and Raisins (vegetarian)

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Coastal California

STARTER

All inclusive

Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini – Creamy burrata with blistered cherry tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze on toasted ciabatta

Waygu Tartare- ginger, chills oil, roe, chive, quail egg

Sirloin Steak & Chimichurri Crostini

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Chef’s Seasonal Salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Seared Chilean Seabass- saffron couscous, roasted fennel, citrus beurre blanc

CARIBBEAN STYLE BRAISED SHORT RIBS potato mash, glazed carrots finished with our signature aged black garlic-balsamic glaze and fresh herbs

DESSERT

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Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Puff Puff & Ice Cream

Coconut Cake with Toasted Coconut & Cream cheese frosting

Matcha Tiramisu- green tea soaked sponge, mascarpone cream

San Diego Elegance

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Gougères with Truffle Honey (vegetarian)

Seafood Carpaccio

Za’atar Spiced Chicken Skewers with Lemon-Garlic Dipping Sauce

Stuffed Mushrooms (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster Gnocchi with Saffron Cream Sauce

Pappardelle al Cacao with Braised Short Rib Ragu

Truffle Risotto (vegetarian)

Salmon Tartare with Crème Fraîche & Chive Blinis

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Filet Mignon au Poivre with Pommes Purée & Haricots Verts

Osso Buco with Gremolata

Branzino al Limone

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

Coastal Comfort

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Burrata & Roasted Tomato Crostini (vegetarian)

Stuffed Mushrooms (vegetarian)

Israeli Salad (vegetarian)

Za’atar Spiced Chicken Skewers with Lemon-Garlic Dipping Sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Branzino al Limone

Filet Mignon au Poivre with Pommes Purée & Haricots Verts

Slow-Braised Moroccan Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Preserved Lemon

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate Fondant with Raspberry Coulis

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Honey and Pistachio Baklava

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Chef Onyinyechukwu's reviews

4.94

•

10 services

Chef Onyi was the absolute best!! She is so sweet and so engaging! Loved having her in our home as her meals were so delicious and everything about her was everything and more! Highly recommend!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Chef Onyinyechukwu Akpa was amazing! The food was delicious, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. Her energy was so charming; warm, calm, and positive the entire time. She was also very easy to communicate with and accommodating to our needs. Everything ran so smoothly, and the experience truly made the evening special. Highly recommend!

I hired Chef Onyi for my wife’s birthday, and she exceeded every expectation. She created a personalized menu and was incredibly professional from start to finish. Every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. On top of that, her personality brought such good and warm energy to the evening.