Cooking with ZARA JUNE
I’m Zara, known as The Macro Muse—a macrobiotic teacher, private chef, and nutrition educator specializing in personalized, nutrition-driven cuisine and lifestyle support.
My work is informed by a foundation in Biology and Nutritional Science from the University of San Francisco, where my interest in health first took shape. During this time, I adopted a macrobiotic approach to support performance, clarity, and sustained energy—an experience that shaped my professional philosophy and continues to guide my work today.
I completed advanced training at the Kushi Macrobiotic Institute in Massachusetts, where I studied macrobiotic philosophy, food energetics, therapeutic cooking, shiatsu, and diagnostic principles. Following my studies, I served on the Institute’s culinary team as head chef and cooking class assistant, refining a cuisine rooted in precision, seasonality, and balance.
For more than a decade, I have worked in private residences as a chef and educator, supporting families and individuals through discreet, high-level service. Some of these roles were live-in, allowing for a deeply personalized and immersive approach to nutrition, cooking, and daily rhythms. I have also spent significant time within a farm-based sustainable community in Alaska, where my appreciation for plant-forward cuisine, sourcing, and simplicity was further refined.
To complement my culinary and macrobiotic training, I bring an integrative background that includes The Culinary Institute of America, Physical Therapy Assistant studies, Personal Training, Pilates, Reiki, and Shiatsu. This breadth allows me to work with clients in a way that is both intuitive and highly informed.
When you work with me, the experience is tailored, thoughtful, and quietly transformative. My role is to provide exceptional private chef services and nutrition guidance while equipping clients with enduring principles that support long-term vitality, ease, and balance.
This is nourishment, refined.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“In her role as our chef, Zara has showcased exceptional culinary skills. She has a diverse repertoire of dishes and an impressive ability to cater to our family’s dietary preferences and restrictions. Zara consistently prepares nutritious and diverse meals, always with a focus on quality and health. Her creativity in the kitchen and dedication to using fresh, healthy ingredients have made mealtime a delightful experience for our entire family.”
-F. PENOT
"Chef Zara was a dream to work with. She prepared the best vegan food for our Joshua Tree Retreat and everyone loved her creations. We love how she prepares the food with such love and how delicious, nourishing, and beautifully prepared it was!! Everyone raved about the food and it made our retreat unforgettable!! We hope to work with her again soon!"
- BRITT & TARA from the ELEVATE THE GLOBE
“Zara’s meals are delicious and healthy, she shops carefully and is mindful with food allergies/sensitivities/requests. Our family had several ever-changing health issues that she was happily game to be team player with.”
-JENNIFER MEDLEY
“Zara is timely, organized, and meticulous in her work. She adapted seamlessly to the evolving needs of our household — from accommodating dietary changes and managing meals for young children to executing last-minute dinner parties with ease. She not only fulfilled every request with precision, but also contributed her own creative ideas, enriching our dining experience in meaningful ways. Notably, she introduced us to new techniques, including the art of pickling, which quickly became a family favorite.”
-SHANK FAMILY
“We went from daily cooking and cleaning in the kitchen to spending more time with our family as soon as Zara started. She’s an incredible chef and she’s fast, a hard worker and trustworthy. Having her help has changed our lives!”
- MAGNO FAMILY