Meet Chef William Turner ~ The Valley's Premiere Private Chef

Meet Chef William Turner ~ The Valley's Premiere Private Chef


Meet Chef William Turner, one of Arizona's best chefs for any private or large-scale events, period. 

After hosting some of Mel's events or interacting with each other at events such as Phoenix Fashion Week, we here at Mel.Media were finally able to get a one-on-one interview with this chef extraordinaire! 


Please get to know Chef Will like we do in our Mel.Media exclusive interview below and find out how you can get him to WOW your tastebuds at your next event. 

Thank you so much, Chef Will, for being here. Could you please give us a little background on how your passion for cooking began? 

My love of food started at home, eating good homemade cooking. My mom is a great cook. At 15 years old, I worked my first restaurant job and quickly fell in love with the kitchen. Everything about it, the chaos, the camaraderie, the pressure, and what I was doing made people happy. 

I've done it all professionally. From fine dining to fast food and from dishwasher to executive chef. From coast to coast with stops in Colorado and New Orleans, among others. I was also an Executive Banquet Chef at one point, which was my most challenging experience, on top of a 20-year career in food and beverage with countless training courses. 

I also majored in business and took a few culinary-based classes. But most of my culinary training came from working under two great chefs, Chad Marshal and Ernest Bledsoe. Both of those guys took my game to another level. 

I have been named #1 Private Chef in Arizona by multiple sources, including Soilesh, and Phoenix Entrepreneurs, and voted "Most Influential in Food" by AZ Foothills Magazine. 

But I am most proud of my 5-star rating across all platforms. That means the most because that's according to my clients!

How would you classify your cooking style for individuals who have never tasted your cuisine? 

I would say I have a variety of cooking styles, but "versatile with classic low country roots" is me.  

What is one of your all-time favorite dishes to prepare? 

I don't have a favorite dish, but I love to grill. It's my happy place, for sure.  

Do you own a restaurant here in Arizona, or are you primarily a private chef for individuals, private catering parties, and events? 

I am primarily a private chef, but I have a restaurant that's not open to the public. It's where I prepare for some of the bigger parties. Maybe one day, I'll open it up to everyone. 

Any quick holiday recipes you could share with our audiences? 

Sure here is a quick side dish for sweet potatoes.
Honey Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

  • 4-5 nice-sized potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 stick melted unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon of chipotle powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Salt and pepper

Step One:

  • Preheat oven to 375*
Step Two: 

Season potatoes and scatter on a baking sheet that is either non-stick or coated with non-stick spray. Bake for 30 minutes until potatoes are al dente. 

Step Three:

Combine seasoning with butter and honey, toss the potatoes gingerly and return to the oven for ten more minutes. Remove and enjoy alongside any holiday classic. 

**This recipe could also be made in an air fryer following this process.**

How can individuals get in contact with you to book your catering and event services? 

The best way is through my website www.chefwilliamturner.com. But anyone 
can also follow me on Instagram @chefwillturner
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