Meet The Chef

I began cooking at the age of 12. I always had a big interest in the goings on in the kitchen. I attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NJ, and completed my AOS in Culinary Arts in 1981. I returned to NJ in 1985 and took a job as sous chef and executive butcher at Caesar’s Atlantic City. I purchased my own establishment in 1987 in Sea Isle City called The Barrier Island Inn until the mid 90’s. At that time I took the position of food service supervisor for Avalon Elementary School. I held the position for 25 years giving me the opportunity to be a chef in Avalon and Stone Harbor fine dining restaurants during the summer months. I retired from the school in 2015 continuing to do private catering and cooking demonstration lectures at the Cape May County Library. A visit to Natali Vineyards in January 2019 led to my employment as their Chef. We began doing once a month Wine Pairing Dinners in February and they were so successful that by April we were up to twice a month. Here, I was allowed to set my own menus and develop a personal culinary style using high quality ingredients with sophisticated and innovative combinations. My only real rule is to throw all the rules away and cook with 100% of the passion I feel about food, which always comes through in my dishes.
- Chef Mark Kalla
Book Your Own Private Group Cooking Class!
Make your next group gathering or special event unforgettable with a personalized group cooking class hosted by Chef Kalla at Natali Vineyards!
Hands on step-by-step instructions for preparing the perfect meal. Chef Mark Kalla will educate you on which wines to pair with the various dishes that you will prepare together making for a full lunch…..come hungry!
One glass of wine included with lunch.
Call for details and reservations. 609-465-0075.

