LIGHTHEARTED KITCHEN Company descriptions, founder bio, and quick facts Last updated 2026-10-08 · Press contact press@lightheartedkitchen.com ============================================================================== ONE SENTENCE Lighthearted Kitchen is the platform for intentional private dining, connecting hosts with a hand-picked network of independent chefs who cook seasonal, ingredient-first menus. SHORT OVERVIEW Lighthearted Kitchen is the platform for intentional private dining. Hosts book from a hand-picked network of independent private chefs who cook seasonal, ingredient-first menus for in-home dinners, recurring meals, and ticketed events. Founded by Chelsey Harlien in 2022 in Orange County, California, the company cooked hyper-local private events with its own team before building the platform. BOILERPLATE Lighthearted Kitchen is the platform for intentional private dining. It connects hosts with a hand-picked network of independent private chefs who cook seasonal, ingredient-first menus for in-home dinners, recurring offerings, and ticketed events. Hosts browse chefs and experiences, plan the menu together with their chef in a shared event space, and complete booking and payment through the platform, so the only job on the night is to enjoy the table. Getting into the network is hard on purpose: every chef is personally reviewed, and only cooks who share the company's values make the cut. Chefs run their own independent businesses, and Lighthearted Kitchen is the marketplace that brings them together with hosts. Founded by Chelsey Harlien in 2022 and based in Orange County, California, the company spent its first years cooking hyper-local private events with its own team and is now bringing that philosophy to hosts across the United States through its platform and iPhone app. Learn more at lightheartedkitchen.com. FOOD AND HOSPITALITY PHILOSOPHY Seasonal, organic, intentional, educational. Menus are built around what is at its peak, sourced from local and regenerative farms where possible, and cooked by chefs who share the why behind every plate. The platform is the mechanism; intentional food is the point. FOUNDER BIO · CHELSEY HARLIEN Chelsey Harlien is the founder of Lighthearted Kitchen. She started the company in 2022, cooking small, hyper-local private events around Orange County, California with her own team. The rule from the first night was simple: build the menu around what is actually in season, source organic and local where possible, and cook food that leaves people feeling good the next morning. Her interest in food began early, reading every label at the grocery store and asking why so many brands put profit ahead of health. That question became a mission to seek out simple, seasonal, nutrient-dense food, and later a business built on transparency, soil health, and education. Chelsey also writes Lighthearted Living, a newsletter on seasonal and intentional living. Today she leads Lighthearted Kitchen as it brings its philosophy to hosts and chefs across the United States. FOUNDER QUOTE (published; use as written) "Connected to each bite, ourselves, those around us, and the outdoors. Fueled by a love of health and wellness, I wanted to create an experience where people leave with more knowledge of the food they are eating and why. Come with an open mind and leave with a full heart and stomach." Chelsey Harlien, Founder of Lighthearted Kitchen QUICK FACTS Company: Lighthearted Kitchen, LLC Founded: 2022 Founder: Chelsey Harlien Headquarters: Laguna Beach, California (Orange County). The team works remotely. What it is: A private dining platform and chef marketplace Offerings: Private in-home dinners, recurring and package offerings, and ticketed public events Who it serves: Hosts and guests, and independent private chefs Platforms: Web at app.lightheartedkitchen.com and the Lighthearted Kitchen app for iPhone Service area: https://lightheartedkitchen.com/chefs-in Platform status: Soft Launch. Hosts and chefs can create accounts, build profiles, and publish offerings now. Bookings and ticket sales are launching soon. Website: https://lightheartedkitchen.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please keep the facts as they appear here. For anything not covered, email press@lightheartedkitchen.com.