Hailing from South Florida, Steve Gatlin was introduced to a wide array of cuisines from an early age into adulthood. The culinary diversity in that area ranges from southern, to tropical Latin flavors, to a blend of nearly every other region of the country due to the beautiful weather that lures migrating families during winter months and into retirement. His family owned and operated farms that produced some of the country’s finest avocados, mangoes and limes, plus a host of other fruits and vegetables that were always on the table at dinner time complementing farm raised meats and fish from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
He left home at the age of 18 to join the United States Marine Corps which landed him in San Diego, California. Steve’s interest in creating tasty dishes blossomed, and he would often host parties where he could serve up plates of goodness for his friends and Marine Corps family.
Without any formal culinary training under his belt, Steve has never been discouraged to try something new in the kitchen. He continues to experiment and push his limits without hesitation, always interested in trying a new flavor profile, cooking technique or regional cuisine. The evolution of the cooking industry grants access to television programs, internet recipe sites and a plethora of diverse restaurants where he lives in Northern California leaving no shortage of inspiration to his imagination.
In 2020 Steve finally took the advice he’d been given for years, and that was to serve up his food to the masses. He began catering private parties and events in people’s homes, each time garnering praise and referrals to the next cook. His clientele ranges from family meals on a busy weekday night, to birthday and other celebrations that allow the hosts to “take the night off” and let Steve serve the guests.
As Steve’s culinary journey has been an evolution from his youth in South Florida, to travels in the Marine Corps, and now life in the San Francisco Bay Area, his style can range as wildly as his background. One thing stays true through it all, Steve loves to serve up food that is delicious, and fun to create for anyone and everyone. Simply put, when explaining what his passion is and the style he brings, “Steve Cooks Stuff.”